Beware the Abbott Boys

by Chelsea Ichaso

Three brothers. Two deaths. One girl, caught in the middle.

The Abbott boys, fraternal triplets Henry, Bram, and Adam, live in a mansion on the outskirts of Silver Creek. For decades, their family's been at odds with the town, long before Mariana Flores died in a fiery accident on the Abbott property last year . The police ruled out foul play, but ask anyone in Silver Creek about it and they'll say one of the Abbott boys killed her. They just don't know which one.

But Hayden, the girl who lives next door to the Abbotts, swears they're innocent. After all, Henry's her best friend—maybe he could be more. She's been worried about Adam ever since he was injured in the accident that killed Mariana. As for Bram, he's a little complicated, but he and Mariana had been in love.

When the new school year brings a new victim—a popular girl, found dead in the woods—the hunt for a monster begins anew. The security camera footage doesn't show the face of the boy she was last seen with, but from his hoodie he could be any one of the Abbott brothers.

To clear their names, Hayden starts investigating the new death, but the deeper she digs, the more uncertain she becomes. Is one of the Abbott brothers a killer? Or could they all be monsters? And what will the boys do to protect themselves and the truth?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult, Mystery Thriller, Horror, Fiction, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2026

About the author

Chelsea Ichaso writes twisty thrillers for young adults and is also the author of the adult thriller, So I Lied. Her novel, The Summer She Went Missing, earned a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, a spot on Barnes & Noble’s Best of 2024 list, and was a 2025 TAYSHAS reading list selection. Her latest release, We Were Warned, is a Junior Library Guild Selection and has been featured on Marie Claire’s list of the 18 Most Anticipated Mystery Thrillers of 2025 as well as Goodreads Guide to 2025’s Biggest Mysteries & Thrillers. Chelsea currently resides in Southern California with her husband and children. When she’s not writing, she can be found cheering from the sidelines at her kids' soccer games or attempting to strum a tune on the guitar. You can visit her online at chelseaichaso.com or on Instagram @chelseaichaso.

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 1 out of 5]

✰ 1.5 stars ✰

“The whole reason I agreed to help was because I trust all three of them. So why am I having these doubts?”

The author cites the novel as a nod to her love of gothic monster novels, namely Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but aside from their physical attributes, I found very little distinction between the Abbott boys and their inspirations. ⛔ Their personalities - if they had any—were drowned in a feeble attempt at a mystery that bored me to no end.

Hayden, the FMC, who grew up with these fraternal triplets was a complete chore; flat and without any presence that failed to ignite an interest. I could not care less about the romance if you ask me, Adam should have been end game. 🙄 While she did start off with a bit of an investigative streak, she lost me along the way on a twisty adventure to nowhere, when even the explanations into the murders became befuddled.

“They think the Abbott brothers are freaks. And their fear rises in the room, fast and hot as flames.”

The mob's aggression towards the boys felt exaggerated, the animosity was so high it felt surreal, and even the supporting cast lacked substance. 😒 The intrigue and suspense were poorly plotted, lacking any real tension or compelling factor that drew me in to want to clear any of the Abbott brothers' names.

I get how the claustrophobic feel was to capture the withdrawn isolation from the town, but the total lack of absence and disregard of the Abbott boys' parents or staff at the mansion felt too implausible and incredulous. 🤨 I also felt some plot lines were insignificant and distracting because nothing came of them. More homage to the original lore, than actually necessary.

The present-tense writing grated on my nerves. The complete lack of quotes I highlighted shows that nothing noteworthy stood out for me. 🙅‍♀️ There was a jarring shift in the scenes that was too unexpected that it completely ruined the momentum of the plot. not that there was much to begin with. Ultimately, quite a disappointment as a YA thriller, and a forgetful one at that.

[Aisvarya [back ig]]

✨Pre-read:
I read the author's previous work last year, and loved it cuz it was atmospheric, fast-paced and had a shocking reveal as well (everything I love in thrillers)!! Hoping this one's just as good🤞🏻✨

Huge thanks to RB Media for the ALC through Netgalley

[nadine]

💌 • thank you to NetGalley, Chelsea Ichaso, rb Media for an alc in exchange for an honest review.

[Norma (reading slump, life slump) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

↝ 1.5 ☆

•°. *࿐ "𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅. 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒕 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅."

If Hayden believed that the town’s justified animosity towards the Abbot fraternal triplets was warranted, would her loyalty to them begin to weaken her relationship with them? Who could accept her claims of their innocence when they have always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, leading the locals to suspect that the Abbott boys are nothing but trouble and don’t deserve to live among them? Everything became clearer after Mariana's death the previous school year. Despite the Abbotts' wealth, they have never felt a part of the townsfolk ever since their grandfather inherited the mansion they currently live in. One might think that with the start of a new school year, the townspeople would have moved on from last year’s tragedy. Yet, the sudden appearance of Bram, Henry, and Adam in public remains a sore spot for the locals, especially since their return to school coincides with the discovery of the most popular girl in school found dead in the woods outside the school. Suspicions arise that the Abbott boys' re-emergence into society could be connected to these events. However, Hayden thinks otherwise and does everything she can to refute the rumours by investigating the case of Mariana and the recent death that has occurred.

↷ Genre:
Mystery
Thriller
Romance
Fiction
Young Adult

↷ POV: Multiple

PSA: My reviews tend to be unorganised because my thoughts are scattered.

»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«

"𝑵𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎. 𝑨 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒅𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑨𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈."

The title "Beware The Abbott Boys" may lead readers to believe that the main characters of this book are monsters, much like how the townspeople of Silver Creek perceive them. However, the real monsters in this story are the teenage girls who act impulsively without fully considering the consequences of their actions.

Unfortunately, the narrative did not engage me. While I’m not an expert in the mystery/thriller genre, I’ve learned that to keep readers engaged, a compelling storyline with intriguing and complex characters is essential. Characters that are misunderstood or have layered motives can draw readers in and keep them on the edge of their seats with anticipation. Unfortunately, I felt that Chelsea failed to create that sense of anticipation throughout the book. Instead, I found myself wanting to simply finish it.

I didn’t feel challenged to guess whether the Abbott boys were innocent because I couldn’t connect with them; they lacked character development, making them feel bland and unrelatable. The same goes for the main character, Hayden. I struggled to connect with her because there wasn’t enough background information to build an emotional bond, and her motives for wanting to help the brothers—believing they were innocent—felt uninspired. Her willingness to doubt them whenever she learned new information further weakened her character.

The motives of certain characters felt insufficiently justified and poorly thought out, which diminished the impact of the killers in the story.

Overall, this book had the potential to be a decent, beginner-friendly introduction to the mystery/thriller genre, but it ultimately fell flat.

»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«
Quotes:

↷ "You and I are not just friends. And I think you know that."
"You're trying to mess with me. You love messing with me."
"Yes. It's one of my favourite things. And I would like to continue doing it forever."

↷ "I'm not nice. You remind me of this fact all the time. And yet, you know I'd walk a few state lines to get you those damned apples."
"Somehow, I do know. I know that Bram would do a lot more for me than trek far and wide for fruit."

»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«

[Joseandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had a really good time with Beware of the Abbott Boys! It was a quick, fast-paced listen that had me second-guessing everyone the entire time. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, something happened that made me change my mind.

The narrators did a great job and really helped pull me into the story. They kept the suspense up and made it easy to stay invested from start to finish.

I could honestly see this being turned into a TV show. It has that addictive mystery vibe where each episode would end with a cliffhanger and make you want to keep watching.

Overall, this was a really fun YA mystery that kept me hooked and entertained the whole way through. If you like stories that keep you guessing, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.

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

4.5⭐️

Chelsea Ichaso really said, “Watch me level up,” because this book proves she just keeps getting better with every release. She’s honestly the poster child for giving an author a second (and third… and fourth) chance when the first book doesn’t quite hit—but the premises keep luring you back like one more try won’t hurt. This is my sixth book by her, and I’ve officially reached the point where I’m comfortable rounding up to five stars without guilt.

One big difference this time: I read the eARC, provided by Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley, instead of reading the audiobook, which is how I’ve experienced most of her backlist. Two of her earlier books used a narrator I personally will never emotionally recover from, so I was relieved she moved on from that casting. Reading this one with my eyeballs instead of my ears makes me want to revisit some of her older titles in print, because Ichaso has a really distinctive way of layering her characters, and I think I’d appreciate that even more on the page.

Update! I read the audiobook. I couldn’t help myself. I enjoyed my first read so much that when the audio ALC became available from Tantor Media, I applied and was approved the same day via NetGalley. Jennifer Jill Araya did a fabulous job with the narration. She reads at a great pace even at 1x speed, and her tone feels perfectly suited for the story. She also handles the male voices really well, which helped keep me fully engaged.

What impressed me most was how distinct and consistent each character sounded. Keeping that many voices clear and believable is such a skill, and Araya absolutely nails it. This is the second of Ichaso’s books she has narrated, and I’m genuinely glad she seems to be the choice moving forward. Ichaso’s audiobooks have come a long way from some of the earlier productions I struggled with, as I mentioned before, and this pairing feels like such a strong fit.

As for Beware the Abbott Boys, I was locked in from start to finish. I cared about these characters (a rare and precious gift) and found myself emotionally tracking several of them along the way. I did guess the culprit—which is pretty standard for me—but it didn’t dampen the experience at all. Watching everything unravel was still extremely satisfying. The romantic tension threaded through the story? Chef’s kiss. I’ll stop there to avoid spoilers, but this felt completely age-appropriate and well-balanced for teen readers.

I did have a brief moment of side-eye when it seemed like we were circling the same themes again and again… but it quickly became clear that this was intentional. By the end, that repetition actually worked in the story’s favor and fit the genre really well instead of feeling lazy or overdone.

This is one I absolutely plan to reread when the audio ALC drops—I’d happily experience this chaos all over again.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun with Beware the Abbott Boys. It's a great YA Mystery-Thriller, full of drama and all the things that go along with that. The characters were well-imagined and I feel like Ichaso did a great job building up the intensity as the story went along.

The mystery of it was fairly simplistic, but that didn't retract from the enjoyment I had going along for the ride. Clearly, I'm not the target audience for this, but in spite of that I still really enjoyed my time with it and can appreciate how much a Teen audience will love this.

Honestly, I love YA Mystery-Thrillers and Horror. I don't think I'll ever stop reading them. I like all the drama, and how deeply the characters feel their emotions. Also, the stakes don't tend to get as seriously, and frankly depressing, as Adult dramas.

But that's just me...

Full review to come...stay tuned!!!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5! Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Beware the Abbott Boys!

This book was such a fun ride. The twists and turns and clues that let you work the case too, it really felt more like watching a movie than reading a book, and I kept feeling that want to get back to reading it. The pacing was wonderful, the amount of description was flawless, the teen angst and yearning was on point. I loved that all the brothers had chapters with their POVs and that Hayden had a special friendship with each of them rather than a copy/paste interchangeable friendship with the triplets. All in all, I will absolutely be on the lookout for more books by Chelsea Ichaso!

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars.

This was a solid YA novel. I probably would have enjoyed this a little more if I was younger, but it was still a pretty good read. The author does such a great job to make her books readable and quick to get through. I was never really bored, it just wasn’t crazy exciting or anything like that.

I loved her novel “The Summer She Went Missing.” That one I was on the edge of my seat! This one wasn’t as good, but still worth reading. I really liked the audiobook. The author’s books are even more enjoyable that way.

I wish there was a little more shown and not told for a lot of the characters. I feel like that was what was missing in this book. With the author’s other book I read, Dylan and Paige had so much chemistry, I could feel how much they liked each other. With this book, even the friendships were a little lacking. We were told Hayden was best friends with these boys, and yes she talked to them a lot, but I never really felt how close they were. In turn, the romantic relationships were just as much lacking.

I did not care about the romance at all. I only cared for the mystery aspect of who was the killer. I thought it was kind of odd too that Hayden kept saying how much she had a crush on Henry and wanted to be with him, but every time she was around Bram she felt a romantic pull. I don’t know if that was just to throw us off or what, but I’d much rather have the focus be on Bram and why she can’t be with him, whether it’s because of his ex or because of the murder investigation, than having her “crushing” on Henry and knowing it would go nowhere.

Hayden was an okay main character to follow, I liked how much she protected the Abbott boys, but there wasn’t much to her. Again, I just wanted to know what was going on, which is what kept me going.

I could not stand Adam. Not really so much for his anger, though I didn’t love that, but the way he felt entitled to the women and thinking he could tell them what to do. Him getting so mad at Bram for stealing Mariana isn’t Bram’s fault! It’s not like Bram had bad intentions! And even if Bram asked Mariana out, she said yes to him! If she had feelings for Adam she wouldn’t have dated Bram. So it just annoyed me when Adam kept acting like the victim and blaming Bram. You don’t own someone just because you think you’re a good match. He sort of did the same thing with Hayden. He kept telling her not to like Bram because Henry has a crush on her and he is the better choice. Like hello, let Hayden choose who she wants to be with! I just didn’t like that mindset at all. He redeemed himself in the end. I’ll give him the slight benefit of the doubt because I know he is just a teenager and went through a traumatic accident, but I still didn’t love him.

Bram and Henry were fine as well, but again, they really didn’t have much personality.

Lydia was an underrated character! I really liked her. The scene at her house with the cats was so touching. And she really came in clutch at the end!

I liked how the Abbott brothers had each other’s back, even if they were mad at each other. To see that type of sibling bond in a book is always great to me.

I thought I knew for sure what was going on, but I was actually wrong! Even if I was right I don’t think it would have ruined the book, but I thought the ending made so much sense.

I don’t think this is a bad read at all, so if you are curious, it is pretty short to read. I would suggest picking up the audiobook. The narrator did a good job! But if you are looking to read something by this author, read “The Summer She Went Missing” instead.

[Darque Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen, I love all of Chelsea's books, but I think this one wins number one in my heart now. It's full of thrills and nail biting drama. It's a page turner right from the start.

The saying goes that "hell is a teenage girl" but what if hell was a teenage boy? Usually YA books focus on the female characters the most, and show the emotional struggles we go through while growing up and navigating friendships, hormones, and drama, but in this one, Chelsea portrayed all that through the Abbott brothers. Our boys were dark, alluring, deeply misunderstood, and bordered on dangerous, in more ways than one. They came with bad reps, good looks, and plenty of emotional baggage and drama.

As fraternal triplets, you'd expect them to be similar to each other, but that was far from the truth. They had their own personalities, quirks, appearances, emotions, and stories, and I loved each one of them. The book may have been mostly told from Hayden's perspective, but the Abbott boys are what made it 🤌🏼.

I absolutely devoured this! The twists were twisty and unexpected in the best ways. The ending was oh so satisfying, and all the characters, including the not so main ones, were captivating and fleshed out and really drove it all home. Not to mention, there were nostalgic, endearing tidbits and inspirations portrayed, and drawn from, classic Gothic novels like Frankenstein and Dracula, and I loved it all! A "killer" read for sure!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for opening up free access to the E-ARC super early because I could not have waited months to read this!

[Bri Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

ugh so good!! I love how this book leans more on the mystery rather than thriller. The characters in this book are all wonderfully written and I was also happy to see how everything played out. I was so lost throughout this book with who Hayden would end up with but also with who really killed both girls. I love seeing how each brother is written and also how we get all their POVs about last year. And of course I was clueless and shocked by the reveal. Chelsea Ichaso perfectly writes reveals with the smallest of details. I’m SO happy with who Hayden ended up with because this whole entire book I was in a crisis thinking she’d pick the other guy. UGHHH IT WAS SO GOODDDDDDD everyone should read this book for a simple yet mind twisting mystery. 5 stars!!

[Jo Wyld · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC copy from Netgalley

A brilliant thriller!

All the way through you are thinking ah yes they did it! Or maybe it was them! But it turns out I am not Miss Marple and I had absolutely no clue!

The nods to Dracula, Frankenstein Jekyll and Hyde through out are great too!

Loved the ending ♥️♥️

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 4 out of 5]

BEWARE THE ABBOTT BOYS is Chelsea Ichaso’s finest work to date.

I enjoyed the mystery of what happened to the victim, even questioning whether perhaps MC Hayden was the culprit. Because I’ve read so many mysteries, I never thought the Abbotts were involved. While I didn’t guess the culprit until right before for he or she was revealed, I did guess some of the twists and turns.

Ischaso was able to give each Abbott triplet a distinct personality. I never had to remind myself which brother was which.

I will continue to preorder Ichaso’s books.

[Linda Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ABSOLUTLY ate this one up! This was given to me as an ALC from Net Galley and oh boy was it fun. I love the romance subplot too. I was invested the whole time and I needed to know what really happened. This book didn’t just have one murder that needed to be solved but two!! I enjoyed all the characters and the twists and am so happy I gave this a listen! Audiobook was great too!

[Jessica Buehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a giveaway and was hooked before the 1st chapter. Each Abbott boy is intriguing and mysterious and I love the flashbacks that are incorporated with each one of the triplets POV. It was hard to put the book down and I was dying to find out the monstrous secret. I absolutely recommend if you love murder mysteries!

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Oh I had SO much fun with this one. I loved the story, the way it was written, and the characters and their dynamics. The brothers- each of them had something different going on and it was so intriguing trying to figure out what was really happening. This book had me hooked from the very first page, and the mystery kept me on my toes.

I loved Hayden as our main character. She stood so strong and didn't allow anyone to stop her from getting answers. And you know I love a teeny tiny romance subplot and this one I devoured. It was so endearing seeing it through Hayden's eyes while she tries to figure why she feels the way she feels about a particular someone (i loved that particular someone sm since the moment he appeared on the page and I'm so glad she ended up with him). Every part of this book was so well done.

Beware the Abbott Boys is definitely up there with some of my fav thrillers now. Highly recommended!

[Kitanna Holliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will grab you instantly as it jumps straight into a compelling story about one of the brothers history. My heart was pounding flipping through each page. Each brother having their own distinct description making it easy to keep track of characters. You’ll be screaming on the inside “RUN!!” Would he really murder a girl? Would THEY murder a girl? The whole town has turned on the Abbott brothers. Will Hayden turn on them too? Or will she find justice for the brothers?

[Marissa Pekurny · Rating 5 out of 5]

omggggg i loved this book!! it was so good, i couldn’t put it down. i loved hayden and how she stuck to her belief that the boys were not bad people despite the millions of reasons why they could be. i loved bram, adam and henry as well and have to say that bram was for sure my fav of the abbott boys. the twists were wild and i for sure didn’t see them coming and that ending was a crazy one!! i was shocked to find out what actually happened. definitely recommend reading this book!! thank you for the early copy!

[Jine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was so so good! I love a good mystery and then you throw in 3 boys who alll look guilty! I’m so in! This story gripped me right from the start; it slowly unraveled the mystery of what happened with Mariana and then were smack dab into the middle of a new murder mystery! I will say I didn’t see the killers coming; I like when I can’t predict what’s gonna happen! I also love seeing the different relationships between Hayden and each boy! They all have such different personalities that mesh with her! I will say tho out of the 3 Bram was definitely my favourite!

[Ree · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up!

An unputdownable read by Chelsea Ichaso! I kept thinking I knew who the killer was and I was so wrong! This had me guessing until the final reveal. Read it late into the night, finishing after 1AM. I just could not stop turning the page to find out how it would end.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Maureen Hester · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beware the Abbott Boys by Chelsea Ichaso, and narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya, was unfortunately only a 2star book for me. This initially spoke to me because of the family name- I have a dear friend who is one of three Abbott brothers! & even tho this was marketed as a YA thriller, the description still sounded like it would be creepy and fast paced.

Overall, this book was a letdown. All of the characters- particularly Hayden and the three brothers, were extremely one dimensional. They all came across as SO flat, and any hit of personality stemmed entirely from them each fulfilling a specific stereotype. The only thing we learn about Hayden is that… she has a relationship with the Abbott boys. That’s it. That is ur whole personality. She is entirely defined by them, and seems to have no original thoughts of her own— and I don’t mean this in the “highschooler following the pack” kind of way, because her POV also didn’t feel authentically high school to me, either. A lot of the plot was redundant, and the love triangle thing just felt gross in this context.

I did not predict the ending, though. I don’t think I knew enough about any of the characters to even have begun to guess. So it was a decent mystery. I did appreciate the narrative of how the whole school/small town turned against the triplets though. That part felt believable, as witch hunts tend to still be an issue in small towns.

I can’t honestly say I would recommend this one, despite enjoying Chelsea’s other works I’ve read!!

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an addictive and enthralling story. Overall I would give it 4.5 stars.

The best thing in this book was the characters and their complex relationships with one another. Henry, Bram, and Adam, being triplets, are bound to have stronger connections with each other but the true extent of their loyalty is tested and shown extremely well during the whole book and it leaves you guessing who to trust until the very end. Similarly, Hayden’s varying relationships with all three of the brothers makes each interaction enticing.

Another thing I loved was the parallels between each brother and their respective classic horror work ( Bram/Dracula, Adam/Frankenstein, and Henry/Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde). I believe the addition of quotes from those books were able to move the plot forward and allow readers to get a better understanding of each brother’s personality.

This is an amazing young adult thriller and I would highly recommend it to others.

[Sabrina (witchy.library) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read two other books of Ichaso’s and loved them so I was definitely excited for her new one. And of course in true fashion I ended up loving this one as well! I was instantly hooked from page one and found myself not being able to stop it was so addicting. I loved Hayden and seeing her play detective throughout the story. Don’t get me started on the Abbott brothers because I loved all three of them so much. I thought I had the killer figured out but then was pleasantly surprised at the end when the twist happened. I also loved the brothers’ POV’s and felt it really added to the story and let you get a better idea of them.

Overall, I so loved this book it was such a vibe for me and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a fast paced YA thriller that keeps you guessing until the end!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[talkingchicle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I had a great time with this one. It’s a fast‑paced listen that kept me second‑guessing everything to the point where I could’ve convinced myself I was the killer. The narrators did an excellent job bringing the story to life—they kept me engaged from start to finish and handled each character with real distinction. I also loved the use of multiple POVs and timelines; it added layers to the suspense and made the mystery feel even more gripping.

I could easily see this being adapted for TV. It’s addictive, twisty vibe would be perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars.

[Genevieve King · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from NetGalley!

I would rate this a 4.5/5

This book was so good! It had the perfect amount of mystery and romance! It kept me on my feet the whole time. Throughout the book I thought I knew who the killer was but definitely did not expect who was actually the killer! I hope that there will be a sequel to this.

[Miranda Tyree · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked A Good Girls Guide to Murder, you will love this one. Same vibes. YA thriller.

[Vee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC of Beware The Abbott Boys by Chelsea Ichaso!!

Beware The Abbott Boys is a fantastic thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat!! An easy fast-paced read with many twists and turns. I absolutely loved the excerpts and references to gothic literature throughout this book, it helped add to the dark and suspenseful tone in this story.

This book follows the Abbott triplets after they are linked to multiple murders. Their longtime friend and neighbor, Hayden, attempts to prove their innocence while growing closer to some of the brothers. Her investigation only leads to more questions and revelations, which only strains her relationship to the brothers and the bond between the triplets.

I really enjoyed Beware The Abbott Boys and will definitely check out more from this author!!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.75 Stars

Now Playing: Kitchen Light by Josie Edwards

My Thoughts:

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

If you want a story where the main character claims she trusts her three best friends but spends most of the book questioning whether they're innocent, then this book is for you. If you're in the mood for a mystery where those same three best friends beg for your help to prove their innocence while constantly lying to you, then this book is for you. And if you want a murder mystery where the main character is supposedly investigating the crime but mostly just asks people questions and scrolls through social media, then this book is definitely for you.

Okay, sarcasm aside, this was not a very good murder mystery.

While I only enjoyed A Good Girl's Guide to Murder marginally more, Pip actually investigates the case. Hayden, on the other hand, spends most of this book reacting to information instead of actively uncovering it. The story puts far too much emphasis on the romance—which wasn't great—instead of focusing on the murder investigation, which should have been the driving force of the novel.

Because of that, the final reveal ends up feeling rushed rather than like the satisfying payoff the story had been building toward. In A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, the tension steadily escalates as Pip receives threats and repeatedly finds herself in dangerous situations because she's getting closer to the truth. Every new clue raises the stakes. Here, there is very little sense of urgency until the final few chapters, when everything is suddenly revealed. Instead of feeling shocked, I was left thinking, Is that really it?

What made the ending even more disappointing was that Hayden never actually felt close to solving the case. She was completely willing to believe that the three boys she repeatedly insists she trusts were guilty. I understand that she's a teenager, not a trained detective, but if you're writing a YA murder mystery, I still expect the protagonist to do meaningful investigative work. Hayden rarely pieces clues together or drives the investigation forward. She mostly waits for information to come to her, making it feel as though the mystery solves itself rather than being solved by its main character.

All right, let's talk about the romance because I hated it.

First of all, I hate love triangles. Second, I especially hate love triangles involving brothers. Beyond that, the romance simply wasn't well developed. Most of Hayden's interactions with the brothers are surface-level conversations, and whenever they begin to touch on something meaningful, the brothers shut the conversation down. There are only two or three scenes near the end of the book where Hayden actually has a genuine, emotional conversation with them.

The biggest issue is that we're constantly told these relationships are deep instead of actually being shown why. We're told they've known each other since they were children. We're told the brothers stayed with Hayden and her father after her mother's death. We're told they're incredibly close. But we don't get enough meaningful scenes between them to make those relationships believable. Because of that, it becomes difficult to understand why they continue trusting Hayden after she spent most of the book believing they were capable of murder.

The next element I struggled with was the brothers themselves. I really wish they had more distinct personalities because, for the most part, they all felt interchangeable. The book repeatedly tells us they're completely different from one another, but it never really shows that. One is the artsy one, one is the jock, and one is the nerd…oh and they have different hair colors. Beyond that, they acted the same and even their dialogue felt interchangeable. Honestly, you could play eeny, meeny, miny, moe with the brothers in most scenes and it probably wouldn't change much.

One last thing I have to complain about is the adults. I understand that adults are often somewhat absent in YA murder mysteries, but Hayden's father allowing his underage daughter to be questioned by the police without him—or even a lawyer—present was unbelievably irresponsible. I know she was only giving a statement about what she witnessed and that several students were being interviewed, but you should never allow a minor to be questioned without an adult present. Since these interviews were taking place at school, there should have at least been a teacher or school administrator in the room.

Overall, this was just an okay read. The romance was mediocre, the characters were forgettable, and the mystery itself never lived up to its potential. I know I spent most of this review complaining, but the biggest problem is that I don't feel strongly enough about this book to truly dislike it. In a few months, I honestly think I'll have forgotten almost everything that happened.

[Monica (switching platforms) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't a bad read by any means, but the way the story unfolded never fully engaged me. Rather than becoming invested in the mystery and eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth, I often found myself simply wanting to reach the end. That's a shame because YA mysteries aren't a genre I usually gravitate toward, and I was genuinely hoping this book would pull me in.

That said, there were definitely things I enjoyed. Chelsea Ichaso's writing is very readable, and the short chapters made this a quick read. I also loved the gothic atmosphere surrounding the Abbott mansion, as well as the subtle references to classic gothic literature. The parallels between the Abbott brothers and iconic literary monsters added an extra layer of intrigue I really appreciated, and I enjoyed seeing how those comparisons gradually evolved throughout the story. And while I didn't correctly guess the killer, I liked that the final reveal was logical and that all the pieces came together in a way that made sense.

Unfortunately, none of this was enough to fully immerse me in the story. The mystery was interesting enough to keep me turning the pages, but I never felt the sense of urgency or escalating tension that I usually look for in a YA murder mystery—at least not until the final stretch of the book.

Instead of actively uncovering clues, Hayden (FL) spends most of the story reacting to information rather than driving the investigation herself. As a result, the mystery felt more like something unfolding around her than something she was genuinely solving. After a while, it became frustrating because it seemed as though she was simply waiting for new information to fall into her lap instead of taking meaningful steps toward uncovering the truth.

The characterization was another major issue for me. Hayden was an okay female protagonist, but I never felt like I really knew who she was outside of the Abbott boys. We're constantly told how close they've all been since childhood, yet I never truly felt those relationships. Their friendships and even the romance relied more on being described than on actually being shown through meaningful interactions.

As for the Abbott brothers, I really wanted them to feel more distinct. The story repeatedly tells us how different they are, but beyond a few defining traits, their personalities often blur together. Adam, Bram, and Henry each had moments that stood out, but overall, I struggled to tell them apart emotionally. That said, I have to give the author credit for weaving elements of classic gothic monster stories into each brother's characterization. I really enjoyed how those subtle parallels were sprinkled throughout the novel, encouraging readers to view the Abbott brothers as monsters before gradually revealing that they were simply three teenagers burdened by their family's reputation and the town's prejudice. Ironically, I found this aspect of the story far more memorable than the brothers themselves as individual characters. In a way, the symbolism surrounding them was more effective than their actual characterization, and it ended up leaving a stronger impression on me than their personalities did.

And the romance... it just wasn't for me. I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles, and one involving brothers made it even harder to enjoy. Hayden spends much of the story insisting she's in love with Henry, yet she constantly feels drawn to Bram, making the romance feel more confusing than compelling. I honestly found myself caring far more about uncovering the killer than about who Hayden would end up with. What I found even harder to understand was Hayden's unwavering trust in the Abbott brothers. Even when evidence started pointing in their direction, she barely seemed to question their innocence. While I admired her loyalty, it also felt unrealistic that she rarely allowed herself to genuinely doubt them.

Overall, Beware the Abbott Boys was an enjoyable YA mystery, but it never fully lived up to the potential of its premise. I enjoyed the atmosphere, appreciated the gothic influences, and thought the final reveal made sense, but the lack of emotional investment and a slower-than-expected mystery kept it from leaving a lasting impression.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Robert Alexander Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐ Left-Field Killer, Right-Field Mess

Beware the Abbott Boys by Chelsea Ichaso had a premise that sounded promising enough for me to make it my first young adult thriller of the season. The opening does have some intrigue, especially with the mystery surrounding the past death of Mariana Flores. There was potential for a tense story about friendship, suspicion, family secrets, and a town that refuses to let the past stay buried. Unfortunately, that potential collapsed almost immediately. What started as an interesting setup turned into a frustrating, unbelievable mystery that required an unreasonable amount of suspension of disbelief.

My biggest issue was how little of the plot made sense in any realistic world. The Abbott boys are high school students who somehow live in a massive mansion with no meaningful adult supervision, no visible staff, and parents who seem to appear only when the plot briefly remembers they exist. Their parents fly in from Paris and then somehow leave again despite the boys being connected to a serious murder investigation. That alone was absurd enough, but the garage setup made it even worse. The book expects the reader to believe that these teenage boys are students, football players, and successful mechanics running their own local garage out of their home, all without a responsible adult anywhere in sight. In any realistic version of this story, Child Protective Services, the police, or at least one competent adult would have stepped in immediately. Instead, the book treats the situation as if this is all perfectly normal.

The legal elements were just as unbelievable. The tired cliché of minors being questioned by police with parental permission but without proper protection, legal guidance, or any real adult seriousness made the investigation feel careless rather than suspenseful. The mystery itself was equally irritating. Hayden spends most of the book investigating the Abbott boys, even though they are supposed to be her lifelong friends. Instead of coming across as a sharp amateur detective, she felt like a low-rent Nancy Drew who ignored obvious gaps, chased the most convenient suspicions, and somehow failed to consider basic alternatives. The boys also hide important information from one another in ways that felt forced rather than natural. As triplets caught in the same investigation, their refusal to have even the most basic honest conversations never felt believable. Rather than building tension, the mystery only survives because the characters are kept from behaving like real people. 

I also struggled with the characters. Hayden was difficult to support as a protagonist, and the Abbott boys never felt fully realistic as triplets with distinct, believable inner lives. The romantic elements added another awkward layer, especially because Hayden had grown up with the Abbott boys and the sudden shift toward romantic tension felt strange rather than believable. Instead of deepening the relationships, it made the character dynamics feel more artificial. The town’s behavior was just as exaggerated, with people continuing to treat the boys as guilty even after certain suspicions had supposedly been cleared. Nearly every part of the book seemed designed for maximum drama and minimum logic.

By the end, I was not invested. I was annoyed. The reveal felt like it came out of nowhere, and the resolution did not feel earned. I think there may have been a stronger book here if the story had focused on Mariana Flores and the original death instead of piling on a new mystery filled with absent adults, forced secrets, legal nonsense, awkward romance, and unbelievable character choices. Beware the Abbott Boys had a strong enough idea at the beginning, but the execution was too messy, too unrealistic, and too frustrating for me to enjoy. This was a 1-star read, and I would not recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Chelsea Ichaso, rb Media and Tantor Media for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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