What do you think?
Rate this book
Beware the Abbott Boys
Not yet published
Expected 30 Jun 26Three 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?
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?
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 30, 2026
About the author
Chelsea Ichaso
7 books887 followersChelsea 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✰ 1.5 stars ✰
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 . 🙄 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.
“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 . 🙄 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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
↝ 1.5 ☆
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.
»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«
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."
»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«
↝ 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."
»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«»--•--«
March 2, 2026
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 instead of listening to 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.
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.
.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
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 instead of listening to 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.
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.
.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
April 4, 2026
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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!
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!
February 18, 2026
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!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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 ♥️♥️
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 ♥️♥️
March 17, 2026
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!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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!
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!
March 2, 2026
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?
February 24, 2026
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!
February 23, 2026
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!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
February 25, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I went into “Beware the Abbott Boys” by Chelsea Ichaso expecting a twisty YA mystery, and it definitely delivered on the drama, secrets, and dark atmosphere. This is one of those stories where you’re constantly questioning everyone, and just when you think you’ve figured things out, something new gets revealed.
The story follows Hayden, who refuses to believe that her childhood best friends, the Abbott triplets, are responsible for the deaths of (first one, then) two girls. The entire town seems convinced the brothers are guilty, but Hayden knows them better than anyone and decides to investigate what really happened. The problem? Each of the brothers is hiding secrets about the night of the first girl’s death, which makes it hard to know who to trust.
One of my favorite parts of this book was definitely the Abbott brothers themselves. Even though they’re triplets, they each have their own personalities, struggles, and emotional baggage. Their relationship with each other is complicated but really compelling; they fight, keep secrets, and clash, but their loyalty runs deep, just like with real brothers. The strong, realistic brotherly bond added a lot of emotional weight to the story and kept me invested.
I also liked how the book explored how quickly people can judge others. The whole town turning against the Abbott family showed how fear and suspicion can shape a narrative, even without proof. Everyone in town thought they were monsters, similar to how people perceived Frankenstein’s monster, which is actually an analogy made a lot in the book as well as with Dracula and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This helps establish some gothic vibes and hint at the idea that anyone can have a darker side.
The mystery itself is more of a slow-burn than an action-packed thriller. It’s very much about uncovering clues, piecing together secrets, and watching relationships unravel. The story switches between different perspectives, including the brothers’, which gradually reveals what really happened. I enjoyed how the tension built over time, even if parts of the middle felt a bit repetitive.
There’s also a messy romantic subplot involving Hayden and the brothers that didn’t totally work for me. It sometimes distracted from the mystery, and I honestly would’ve liked more focus on friendship instead. Still, her different connections with each brother helped show their individual personalities.
The atmosphere was another highlight. The creepy mansion, the town’s history, and the constant sense that something wasn’t quite right created a strong mood throughout the book. And while I had some guesses about the ending, the final reveal still made sense and wrapped things up in a satisfying way, with some nice character growth along the way.
Overall, I found “Beware the Abbott Boys” to be an engaging and dramatic YA mystery with lots of secrets, emotional tension, and gothic vibes. If you like slow-burn mysteries, complicated characters, and stories where everyone might be hiding something, this is definitely worth checking out.
I went into “Beware the Abbott Boys” by Chelsea Ichaso expecting a twisty YA mystery, and it definitely delivered on the drama, secrets, and dark atmosphere. This is one of those stories where you’re constantly questioning everyone, and just when you think you’ve figured things out, something new gets revealed.
The story follows Hayden, who refuses to believe that her childhood best friends, the Abbott triplets, are responsible for the deaths of (first one, then) two girls. The entire town seems convinced the brothers are guilty, but Hayden knows them better than anyone and decides to investigate what really happened. The problem? Each of the brothers is hiding secrets about the night of the first girl’s death, which makes it hard to know who to trust.
One of my favorite parts of this book was definitely the Abbott brothers themselves. Even though they’re triplets, they each have their own personalities, struggles, and emotional baggage. Their relationship with each other is complicated but really compelling; they fight, keep secrets, and clash, but their loyalty runs deep, just like with real brothers. The strong, realistic brotherly bond added a lot of emotional weight to the story and kept me invested.
I also liked how the book explored how quickly people can judge others. The whole town turning against the Abbott family showed how fear and suspicion can shape a narrative, even without proof. Everyone in town thought they were monsters, similar to how people perceived Frankenstein’s monster, which is actually an analogy made a lot in the book as well as with Dracula and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This helps establish some gothic vibes and hint at the idea that anyone can have a darker side.
The mystery itself is more of a slow-burn than an action-packed thriller. It’s very much about uncovering clues, piecing together secrets, and watching relationships unravel. The story switches between different perspectives, including the brothers’, which gradually reveals what really happened. I enjoyed how the tension built over time, even if parts of the middle felt a bit repetitive.
There’s also a messy romantic subplot involving Hayden and the brothers that didn’t totally work for me. It sometimes distracted from the mystery, and I honestly would’ve liked more focus on friendship instead. Still, her different connections with each brother helped show their individual personalities.
The atmosphere was another highlight. The creepy mansion, the town’s history, and the constant sense that something wasn’t quite right created a strong mood throughout the book. And while I had some guesses about the ending, the final reveal still made sense and wrapped things up in a satisfying way, with some nice character growth along the way.
Overall, I found “Beware the Abbott Boys” to be an engaging and dramatic YA mystery with lots of secrets, emotional tension, and gothic vibes. If you like slow-burn mysteries, complicated characters, and stories where everyone might be hiding something, this is definitely worth checking out.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
Beware the Abbott Boys by Chelsea Ichaso starts off with a strong hook. The mystery at the beginning is genuinely engaging and does a great job of pulling the reader in. There’s a real sense of intrigue early on, and the setup promises something dark and layered. Unfortunately, as the story progresses, that initial momentum fades, and the narrative begins to feel repetitive and stalled.
One of the main issues lies with the characterization. Hayden, in particular, feels underdeveloped as a protagonist. She functions more as a narrator observing the Abbott brothers than as a fully realized character in her own right. Her identity is almost entirely defined by her relationship to them, and we rarely get a sense of who she is outside of that dynamic. Similarly, while the Abbott brothers are introduced as having distinct personalities, those differences blur as the story continues. Their voices and behaviors start to feel interchangeable, which weakens their impact as central figures in the mystery.
The pacing also struggles. Much of the book seems to circle the same conversations and interactions without meaningful progression. The investigation—arguably the heart of the story—ends up feeling surprisingly dull, lacking urgency or escalation. Instead of uncovering new layers, the plot often revisits familiar ground, which makes large portions of the middle section drag.
The romance subplot feels forced rather than organic. Rather than naturally emerging from character development and shared experiences, it seems inserted to meet genre expectations. As a result, it doesn’t carry much emotional weight and sometimes distracts from the central mystery instead of enhancing it. By the time the story reaches its conclusion, the ending feels predictable, following a path that is easy to anticipate rather than one that truly surprises.
That said, the prose is a clear strength. The writing itself is smooth and readable, with moments of strong atmosphere and tone. On a sentence level, the book is well crafted—even when the plot and characters don’t quite live up to the promise of the premise.
Overall, Beware the Abbott Boys is a novel with an intriguing concept and solid prose, but it ultimately falls short in character depth and narrative drive. Readers who enjoy slow-burning mysteries with a strong opening may find something to like here, but those looking for a tightly plotted investigation and richly developed characters may be left wanting more.
Beware the Abbott Boys by Chelsea Ichaso starts off with a strong hook. The mystery at the beginning is genuinely engaging and does a great job of pulling the reader in. There’s a real sense of intrigue early on, and the setup promises something dark and layered. Unfortunately, as the story progresses, that initial momentum fades, and the narrative begins to feel repetitive and stalled.
One of the main issues lies with the characterization. Hayden, in particular, feels underdeveloped as a protagonist. She functions more as a narrator observing the Abbott brothers than as a fully realized character in her own right. Her identity is almost entirely defined by her relationship to them, and we rarely get a sense of who she is outside of that dynamic. Similarly, while the Abbott brothers are introduced as having distinct personalities, those differences blur as the story continues. Their voices and behaviors start to feel interchangeable, which weakens their impact as central figures in the mystery.
The pacing also struggles. Much of the book seems to circle the same conversations and interactions without meaningful progression. The investigation—arguably the heart of the story—ends up feeling surprisingly dull, lacking urgency or escalation. Instead of uncovering new layers, the plot often revisits familiar ground, which makes large portions of the middle section drag.
The romance subplot feels forced rather than organic. Rather than naturally emerging from character development and shared experiences, it seems inserted to meet genre expectations. As a result, it doesn’t carry much emotional weight and sometimes distracts from the central mystery instead of enhancing it. By the time the story reaches its conclusion, the ending feels predictable, following a path that is easy to anticipate rather than one that truly surprises.
That said, the prose is a clear strength. The writing itself is smooth and readable, with moments of strong atmosphere and tone. On a sentence level, the book is well crafted—even when the plot and characters don’t quite live up to the promise of the premise.
Overall, Beware the Abbott Boys is a novel with an intriguing concept and solid prose, but it ultimately falls short in character depth and narrative drive. Readers who enjoy slow-burning mysteries with a strong opening may find something to like here, but those looking for a tightly plotted investigation and richly developed characters may be left wanting more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!
As a mother of quadruplets, three of whom are boys born moments apart, I was immediately intrigued that this plot revolved around triplet brothers. It brings a really interesting dynamic to the plot, the suspicion placed on the brothers, and the question of the lengths they would go to support one another with their additional closeness as multiples.
This is a fast paced, enjoyable read. I loved the way the author included references to gothic classics- Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. This added a more ominous layer to the tone of the book & invited the readers mind to run and make inferences of their own. The mansion the boys lived in and the mystery surrounding their family history served to add a layer of eeriness that I would’ve like to see developed even more.
Even with a relatively small cast of characters the author does a good job of creating possibilities, alluding to culpability, and layering twists until the final pieces of the puzzle come together. I also appreciated that this book fits well into its category as a YA thriller. Obviously, it’s a murder mystery but the details are not graphic or gratuitous and there is very little language. The tension and romantic sub plot is well done and age appropriate. With more and more adult and explicit content finding its way into YA books it was refreshing to read a book that you really can give to a 14 year old (publisher recommended age) without worries over content.
The book is written in a non linear timeline and we get multiple POV’s: flash backs to the Abbott boys experiences and a present tense narrative from the main characters point of view. This was effective, giving the reader glimpses into the past and the boys headspace. I did think the present timeline read more like a podcast recounting of events- the main character really only exists in relation to her experiences with the Abbott boys…she feels more like a plot device than a character in her own right.
That said, this is a fun, twisty YA thriller that’s worth a read! For me, if the gothic aspects were blended more seamlessly with the thriller aspects the star rating would be higher but it’s a good book just as it is.
As a mother of quadruplets, three of whom are boys born moments apart, I was immediately intrigued that this plot revolved around triplet brothers. It brings a really interesting dynamic to the plot, the suspicion placed on the brothers, and the question of the lengths they would go to support one another with their additional closeness as multiples.
This is a fast paced, enjoyable read. I loved the way the author included references to gothic classics- Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. This added a more ominous layer to the tone of the book & invited the readers mind to run and make inferences of their own. The mansion the boys lived in and the mystery surrounding their family history served to add a layer of eeriness that I would’ve like to see developed even more.
Even with a relatively small cast of characters the author does a good job of creating possibilities, alluding to culpability, and layering twists until the final pieces of the puzzle come together. I also appreciated that this book fits well into its category as a YA thriller. Obviously, it’s a murder mystery but the details are not graphic or gratuitous and there is very little language. The tension and romantic sub plot is well done and age appropriate. With more and more adult and explicit content finding its way into YA books it was refreshing to read a book that you really can give to a 14 year old (publisher recommended age) without worries over content.
The book is written in a non linear timeline and we get multiple POV’s: flash backs to the Abbott boys experiences and a present tense narrative from the main characters point of view. This was effective, giving the reader glimpses into the past and the boys headspace. I did think the present timeline read more like a podcast recounting of events- the main character really only exists in relation to her experiences with the Abbott boys…she feels more like a plot device than a character in her own right.
That said, this is a fun, twisty YA thriller that’s worth a read! For me, if the gothic aspects were blended more seamlessly with the thriller aspects the star rating would be higher but it’s a good book just as it is.
Read
April 8, 2026Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC
Beware the Abbott Boys is a YA mystery/thriller that I really enjoyed! I've not read any other Chelsea Ichaso books but that will be changing.
This story of three brothers believed to have been involved in the murder of Mariana Flores and Hayden, the girl next door who believes they are innocent. It held such a strong, eerie premise and absolutely nailed that tense, closed-circle mystery vibe—small town secrets, messy dynamics, and that constant feeling that something is just… off.
The atmosphere really carried the story for me, and I was hooked on uncovering what actually happened, even when the pacing dipped a little in the middle.
Throughout the book I did need to remind myself that this was a YA novel, especially when I found some of the characters not hitting as hard emotionally as I wanted - but they remained well rounded and progressed the story. There were a few moments where I struggled to fully connect, especially when motivations started to blur or shift a little too conveniently. The Abbott boys themselves had potential to be more distinct, but at times they blended together rather than standing out.
The twists were solid and definitely kept me guessing, though not all of them landed with the impact I was hoping for. Still, it was an engaging, bingeable read with just enough suspense to keep the pages turning—I just wish it had dug a bit deeper into both the characters and the darker elements it hinted at.
If you aren't into super scary thriller/mysteries I think this is a great gateway to the genre, or if you enjoy the vibes of YA novel I think you'll love this one. I loved the plot and the characters.
I've tried not to give away anything about the plot in this review because the most enjoyable part of this book was definitely not knowing what the next page held!
3.75 Stars
Beware the Abbott Boys is a YA mystery/thriller that I really enjoyed! I've not read any other Chelsea Ichaso books but that will be changing.
This story of three brothers believed to have been involved in the murder of Mariana Flores and Hayden, the girl next door who believes they are innocent. It held such a strong, eerie premise and absolutely nailed that tense, closed-circle mystery vibe—small town secrets, messy dynamics, and that constant feeling that something is just… off.
The atmosphere really carried the story for me, and I was hooked on uncovering what actually happened, even when the pacing dipped a little in the middle.
Throughout the book I did need to remind myself that this was a YA novel, especially when I found some of the characters not hitting as hard emotionally as I wanted - but they remained well rounded and progressed the story. There were a few moments where I struggled to fully connect, especially when motivations started to blur or shift a little too conveniently. The Abbott boys themselves had potential to be more distinct, but at times they blended together rather than standing out.
The twists were solid and definitely kept me guessing, though not all of them landed with the impact I was hoping for. Still, it was an engaging, bingeable read with just enough suspense to keep the pages turning—I just wish it had dug a bit deeper into both the characters and the darker elements it hinted at.
If you aren't into super scary thriller/mysteries I think this is a great gateway to the genre, or if you enjoy the vibes of YA novel I think you'll love this one. I loved the plot and the characters.
I've tried not to give away anything about the plot in this review because the most enjoyable part of this book was definitely not knowing what the next page held!
3.75 Stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Three brothers. Two deaths. And one girl who might be protecting a monster.
📚 Beware the Abbott Boys by Chelsea Ichaso
Genre: YA thriller
Vibes: gothic mansion, small town rumors, dangerous boys, messy loyalty, twisty mystery
The Abbott brothers have always been Silver Creek’s villains. Then a girl dies in a fire on their property. The town is convinced one of them did it. They just do not know which one.
And when another girl turns up dead in the woods, all eyes go right back to the mansion.
What made this impossible to put down:
🖤 Dark, alluring triplet brothers with wildly different personalities
🏚️ Broody mansion energy straight out of a modern gothic
🔥 Small town suspicion that feels suffocating
🔍 Twists that actually twist
📖 Subtle nods to classics like Frankenstein and Dracula
Usually YA leans heavily into the emotional chaos of teenage girls. This time, the emotional volatility, insecurity, and intensity live inside the Abbott boys. And it works so well. They are misunderstood, magnetic, and borderline dangerous in ways that keep you guessing.
Henry the best friend. Bram the complicated romantic. Adam the injured and unpredictable one. As fraternal triplets, they could not be more different, and I loved how distinct each of them felt.
Hayden may be our lens into the story, but the Abbott boys are the heartbeat. You never fully know who to trust. Not them. Not the town. Not even your own assumptions.
I devoured this. The tension builds beautifully, the drama is nail biting, and the ending? So satisfying.
If you love morally gray boys, gothic undertones, and mysteries that make you question everyone, this is a must.
💬 Are you brave enough to fall for the boy everyone else thinks is a killer?
#ChelseaIchaso #BewareTheAbbottBoys #SourcebooksFire #YAthriller #Bookstagram
📚 Beware the Abbott Boys by Chelsea Ichaso
Genre: YA thriller
Vibes: gothic mansion, small town rumors, dangerous boys, messy loyalty, twisty mystery
The Abbott brothers have always been Silver Creek’s villains. Then a girl dies in a fire on their property. The town is convinced one of them did it. They just do not know which one.
And when another girl turns up dead in the woods, all eyes go right back to the mansion.
What made this impossible to put down:
🖤 Dark, alluring triplet brothers with wildly different personalities
🏚️ Broody mansion energy straight out of a modern gothic
🔥 Small town suspicion that feels suffocating
🔍 Twists that actually twist
📖 Subtle nods to classics like Frankenstein and Dracula
Usually YA leans heavily into the emotional chaos of teenage girls. This time, the emotional volatility, insecurity, and intensity live inside the Abbott boys. And it works so well. They are misunderstood, magnetic, and borderline dangerous in ways that keep you guessing.
Henry the best friend. Bram the complicated romantic. Adam the injured and unpredictable one. As fraternal triplets, they could not be more different, and I loved how distinct each of them felt.
Hayden may be our lens into the story, but the Abbott boys are the heartbeat. You never fully know who to trust. Not them. Not the town. Not even your own assumptions.
I devoured this. The tension builds beautifully, the drama is nail biting, and the ending? So satisfying.
If you love morally gray boys, gothic undertones, and mysteries that make you question everyone, this is a must.
💬 Are you brave enough to fall for the boy everyone else thinks is a killer?
#ChelseaIchaso #BewareTheAbbottBoys #SourcebooksFire #YAthriller #Bookstagram
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Chelsea Ichaso never disappoints. Two teenage girls have been murdered, and everyone assumes one of the Abbott triplets is responsible. Hayden, the Abbotts' best friend, knows this can’t be true and is determined to uncover what really happened — even if the truth is painful to hear. Do the triplets have secrets Hayden doesn’t know about? And how far is the real killer willing to go to keep them hidden?
Exciting and fast-paced, this novel features richly developed characters that pull you in from the very first page. Although the book does not emphasize specific cultural or racial identities, its characters will invite identification from a wide range of readers. The book is written in short chapters, each by a different character, which will engage reluctant readers. The interesting character make-up of triplets is unique and adds an unusual dynamic to the story. Each boy has an individual personality but shares a unique bond as triplets. The main character is relatable and strong, making readers feel every moment of danger and uncertainty alongside her. The plot includes several twists that will have the reader’s head spinning. It’s a true page-turner you’ll race through in one sitting. The tension between the characters is electric, and the dark secrets surrounding the Abbott family make the story impossible to put down. The twists are shocking but believable, and the suspense builds beautifully as the truth slowly unravels. This is a must-read for anyone who loves teen mysteries with drama, danger, and unforgettable characters. This is one of the rare books that will turn a non-reader into a reader. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
Exciting and fast-paced, this novel features richly developed characters that pull you in from the very first page. Although the book does not emphasize specific cultural or racial identities, its characters will invite identification from a wide range of readers. The book is written in short chapters, each by a different character, which will engage reluctant readers. The interesting character make-up of triplets is unique and adds an unusual dynamic to the story. Each boy has an individual personality but shares a unique bond as triplets. The main character is relatable and strong, making readers feel every moment of danger and uncertainty alongside her. The plot includes several twists that will have the reader’s head spinning. It’s a true page-turner you’ll race through in one sitting. The tension between the characters is electric, and the dark secrets surrounding the Abbott family make the story impossible to put down. The twists are shocking but believable, and the suspense builds beautifully as the truth slowly unravels. This is a must-read for anyone who loves teen mysteries with drama, danger, and unforgettable characters. This is one of the rare books that will turn a non-reader into a reader. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Beware the abbott boys is a YA mystery novel that follows hayden, a teenage girl and the neighbor to the abbott triplets which are her childhood bestfriends, as she helps clear their name of a crime she believes they didn't commit and decides the way to do that is to uncover the murderer herself.
The book is well written with multiple povs and i liked that. However, it has the one trope i dislike which is a love triangle. I admit i would'nt have minded if there were other aspects of the book i liked ie: If the brothers had any personality at all, which would make the love triangle at least entertaining.
Instead we're focused on the mystery, which again, i wouldn't have minded since i love the genre, if said mystery wasn't boring me to death.
The characters are so watered down they felt like walking tropes. Literally. One is the bad boy, one is the sweet golden retriever and the other is the shy mysterious one. And that's it. Not to mention the illogical fact that everyone in that neighborhood is an idiot and hates these rich and handsome teenagers' guts simply because they decided one of them killed a teenage girl despite the lack of evidence. And the doctor ??? Not gonna spoil but his character and what he did makes absolutely no sense. That is not how a doctor would act.
I would've enjoyed this more had there been more depth to the characters.
I gave it 2 stars because although i didn't love it, i didn't hate it. It simply wasn't for me.
It was a cute and light read and I could see some people who enjoy YA mystery/romance novels enjoying this, it is a solid book in that regard.
The book is well written with multiple povs and i liked that. However, it has the one trope i dislike which is a love triangle. I admit i would'nt have minded if there were other aspects of the book i liked ie: If the brothers had any personality at all, which would make the love triangle at least entertaining.
Instead we're focused on the mystery, which again, i wouldn't have minded since i love the genre, if said mystery wasn't boring me to death.
The characters are so watered down they felt like walking tropes. Literally. One is the bad boy, one is the sweet golden retriever and the other is the shy mysterious one. And that's it. Not to mention the illogical fact that everyone in that neighborhood is an idiot and hates these rich and handsome teenagers' guts simply because they decided one of them killed a teenage girl despite the lack of evidence. And the doctor ??? Not gonna spoil but his character and what he did makes absolutely no sense. That is not how a doctor would act.
I would've enjoyed this more had there been more depth to the characters.
I gave it 2 stars because although i didn't love it, i didn't hate it. It simply wasn't for me.
It was a cute and light read and I could see some people who enjoy YA mystery/romance novels enjoying this, it is a solid book in that regard.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beware the Abbott Boys had
everything
I usually love: small town secrets, messy relationships, and a twisty mystery centered around three very suspicious brothers. The story follows Hayden, who lives next door to the Abbott triplets-Henry, Bram and Adam-each of whom could be tied to not one, but two recent deaths in their town. When another girl turns up dead and the evidence seems to point (again) to one of the brothers, Hayden sets out to uncover the truth...but the deeper she digs, the less sure she is about who she can trust.
All of that sounds right up my alley, which is why it was a little disappointing that this one took me so long to get into. For a good portion of the book, it felt a lot of back-and-forth without much actually happening. The stakes didn't feel very high, and I struggled to connect with the characters early on-it honestly took more than halfway through before I really started to care.
That said, once things finally picked up, I was definitely more invested. And I have to give credit where it's due - the ending got me. I didn't see it coming, which always earns point in a YA mystery like this.
I usually love Chelsea Ichaso's books, but this one wasn't my personal favorite from her. Still, the strong ending and intriguing premise helped bring it back around for me. I give this one 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
*Special thanks for NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based off an uncorrected proof which did not sway my opinion either way.
All of that sounds right up my alley, which is why it was a little disappointing that this one took me so long to get into. For a good portion of the book, it felt a lot of back-and-forth without much actually happening. The stakes didn't feel very high, and I struggled to connect with the characters early on-it honestly took more than halfway through before I really started to care.
That said, once things finally picked up, I was definitely more invested. And I have to give credit where it's due - the ending got me. I didn't see it coming, which always earns point in a YA mystery like this.
I usually love Chelsea Ichaso's books, but this one wasn't my personal favorite from her. Still, the strong ending and intriguing premise helped bring it back around for me. I give this one 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
*Special thanks for NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based off an uncorrected proof which did not sway my opinion either way.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I won this ARC in a giveaway and these opinions are my own. I blew through this book! So many secret! A year ago a girl died in a car fire, the police eventually ruled it an accident but not before public opinion blamed it on the Abbott boys. Triplets, one who was the boyfriend, one who ended up with burns of his own from trying to save her, or did he? Hayden whole heartedly believes that they are innocent. Bram, Henry, and Adam are her closest friends and they would never do what the town blames them for. After it happened they stayed at home but this year the three are returning to school. But most people aren’t happy about it. And then another girl ends up dead and public opinion is quick to blame the Abbott monsters but not Hayden. However when a security footage shows the dead girl with a boy in a blue hoodie with an A on it, Hayden beings to wonder. See she got the hoodies, one for each Abbott boy. So who is in the footage? All three deny it’s them but won’t account for their whereabouts at the time. The three are clearly hiding things, but is it murder? Hayden’s determined to prove her friends are innocent, but each secret she uncovers makes her less and less sure. Is one of her best friends a murderer? And will seeking the truth put Hayden in more danger than she could have imagined? I’m a huge fan of Chelsea Ichaso’s mysteries and this one had me hooked! Two compelling deaths that had me flipping the pages! Thrilling, suspenseful, and had me guessing!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
BEWARE THE ABBOTT BOYS by Chelsea Ichaso (June 30, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eArc
A year after the Abbott boys were shunned for their believed role in the d*ath of Marianna, their back under fire when a new victim is found d*ad. The Abbott boys are her friends, for Hayden she'll stop at nothing to prove their innocence. But uncertainty is never far from the back of her mind.
I have read all of Ichaso's books, and they keep getting better. BEWARE THE ABBOTT BOYS is a YA m*rder mystery that is thrilling, dramatic, and there was a chapter where everything fell into place and I was sure that I had figured out the whodunit. Surprisingly---or not so surprisingly---I was wrong. I actually flew through this. Not only because it is quite fast-paced, but I had to know who did it and why. The reveal shocked me because Ichaso wrote this in such a way that, at one point, everyone was guilty.
BEWARE THE ABBOTT BOYS is a simple thriller, but there is nothing wrong with simplicity. What I mean by this is that it's easy to read, the characters are actually very likeable despite "fear" Hayden has that one of her friends is a k*ller, and everything falls into place nicely...even with my lack of figuring out the k*ller until they were on the page basically admitting to it. Highly recommend.
BEWARE THE ABBOTT BOYS by Chelsea Ichaso (June 30, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eArc
A year after the Abbott boys were shunned for their believed role in the d*ath of Marianna, their back under fire when a new victim is found d*ad. The Abbott boys are her friends, for Hayden she'll stop at nothing to prove their innocence. But uncertainty is never far from the back of her mind.
I have read all of Ichaso's books, and they keep getting better. BEWARE THE ABBOTT BOYS is a YA m*rder mystery that is thrilling, dramatic, and there was a chapter where everything fell into place and I was sure that I had figured out the whodunit. Surprisingly---or not so surprisingly---I was wrong. I actually flew through this. Not only because it is quite fast-paced, but I had to know who did it and why. The reveal shocked me because Ichaso wrote this in such a way that, at one point, everyone was guilty.
BEWARE THE ABBOTT BOYS is a simple thriller, but there is nothing wrong with simplicity. What I mean by this is that it's easy to read, the characters are actually very likeable despite "fear" Hayden has that one of her friends is a k*ller, and everything falls into place nicely...even with my lack of figuring out the k*ller until they were on the page basically admitting to it. Highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
A fast-paced young adult mystery book that will keep you guessing! Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus!
POV: 1st person with 11 POVs of the brothers
Spice: 0 (which I loved)
*their friendship? I. LOVE. IT.
When i thought i had solved the mystery... oh boy, I was wrong. It kept me on the edge!
I finished this book in a few hours! Did not disappoint me!
We follow Hayden and her close friend group: the wealthy Abbott triplets, Bram, Henry, and Adam. They’ve been inseparable since childhood, but everything changes when Mariana Sanchez is found dead on the Abbott property. The entire town is convinced the triplets are responsible, but Hayden refuses to believe they’re guilty. Then, dark secrets begin to unravel and another death shakes the town. And Hayden starts questioning everything and everyrone, including her best friend, Henry. Now, someone determined to frame the triplets, Hayden is determined to uncover the truth before the real killer strikes again.
It took until the end to figure out who the killer was! Trust me, I tried to piece it together but failed to do so. Definitely worth getting a copy of this book! Writing was fantastic.
The ending? I LOVED IT. I WAS SOBBING A LOT.
Please I want more of them!
*thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!*
A fast-paced young adult mystery book that will keep you guessing! Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus!
POV: 1st person with 11 POVs of the brothers
Spice: 0 (which I loved)
*their friendship? I. LOVE. IT.
When i thought i had solved the mystery... oh boy, I was wrong. It kept me on the edge!
I finished this book in a few hours! Did not disappoint me!
We follow Hayden and her close friend group: the wealthy Abbott triplets, Bram, Henry, and Adam. They’ve been inseparable since childhood, but everything changes when Mariana Sanchez is found dead on the Abbott property. The entire town is convinced the triplets are responsible, but Hayden refuses to believe they’re guilty. Then, dark secrets begin to unravel and another death shakes the town. And Hayden starts questioning everything and everyrone, including her best friend, Henry. Now, someone determined to frame the triplets, Hayden is determined to uncover the truth before the real killer strikes again.
It took until the end to figure out who the killer was! Trust me, I tried to piece it together but failed to do so. Definitely worth getting a copy of this book! Writing was fantastic.
The ending? I LOVED IT. I WAS SOBBING A LOT.
Please I want more of them!
*thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!*
March 1, 2026
Beware the Abbott Boys by Chelsea Ichaso; 4 Stars
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
Once again, this is one of those Young Adult Thriller/Mystery books that has everything you want. Messy characters, confusing friendships, high school cliquy drama, questionable romantic pursuits, and people brought together by circumstance.
This was a good, quick read. I thought the characters were messy and never fully likable, in the tumultuous nature of teenagers. They have weird relationships due to proximity and dramatic relationships with their English homework! As a die-hard love triangle lover, this book gave me everything I wanted in the teenage angst and pining.
The authors' homage to their love of classic, gothic stories, Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, was very well done. I really enjoyed the parallels they drew, but I wanted a bit more of it. I cannot forget Adam saying, “the whispers said it had to be today.” Hello??? We’re just not going to bring that up again??
I think it was a fun read if you’re looking for a YA story where the plot doesn’t make you audibly gasp every page, but does keep you turning the pages to find out what happened. This is going to be a great summer of YA thrillers.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
Once again, this is one of those Young Adult Thriller/Mystery books that has everything you want. Messy characters, confusing friendships, high school cliquy drama, questionable romantic pursuits, and people brought together by circumstance.
This was a good, quick read. I thought the characters were messy and never fully likable, in the tumultuous nature of teenagers. They have weird relationships due to proximity and dramatic relationships with their English homework! As a die-hard love triangle lover, this book gave me everything I wanted in the teenage angst and pining.
The authors' homage to their love of classic, gothic stories, Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, was very well done. I really enjoyed the parallels they drew, but I wanted a bit more of it. I cannot forget Adam saying, “the whispers said it had to be today.” Hello??? We’re just not going to bring that up again??
I think it was a fun read if you’re looking for a YA story where the plot doesn’t make you audibly gasp every page, but does keep you turning the pages to find out what happened. This is going to be a great summer of YA thrillers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was insane. The plot twists were extremely unexpected and the characters were so well-built.
The Abbott triplets are hated in their town due to the death of Marianna last October. However, for the fmc, Hayden, she trusts them with their life...right? Then Kennedy dies and before she knows it, the boy she loves is lying to her and she's completely lost. She's throwing herself out there, just to help them out. Because after all, they're her best friends.
That is until the lines between being mad and a motive for murder start to blur and Hayden can't tell who's telling the truth and who's not. Who killed Marianna when it was said to be an accident? And who killed Kennedy when it looked like anything but an accident?
All the characters were so dynamic and it was honestly so hard to tell who was guilty and who was not. Additionally, I think some of the characters can be relatable for some, like Adam Abbott, who can barely use his hand because of the accident last year and seems like he hates everything. Overall, this is a 10/10 mystery, it was fast-paced, it kept me engaged, and I loved the characters!
The Abbott triplets are hated in their town due to the death of Marianna last October. However, for the fmc, Hayden, she trusts them with their life...right? Then Kennedy dies and before she knows it, the boy she loves is lying to her and she's completely lost. She's throwing herself out there, just to help them out. Because after all, they're her best friends.
That is until the lines between being mad and a motive for murder start to blur and Hayden can't tell who's telling the truth and who's not. Who killed Marianna when it was said to be an accident? And who killed Kennedy when it looked like anything but an accident?
All the characters were so dynamic and it was honestly so hard to tell who was guilty and who was not. Additionally, I think some of the characters can be relatable for some, like Adam Abbott, who can barely use his hand because of the accident last year and seems like he hates everything. Overall, this is a 10/10 mystery, it was fast-paced, it kept me engaged, and I loved the characters!
April 9, 2026
I had a bit of a tough time with this one. We meet Hayden, who for as long as she can remember has had the Abbott boys as part of her life. The triplets are her best friends and also at least one of them is her first love and so when they are accused of murder yet again, she feels the need to defend them to try to figure out what really happened.
I think my major problem was that she keeps extolling how she’s their best friend and she loves them so much but literally anytime anything comes up. She thinks it’s one of them. Her loyalty seems very fragile and she spends a lot of time thinking each one of them has done these horrible things. Also, because she makes them sound so bad so often it’s really hard to like these three boys and to hope that they are in fact, not involved in the murders.
I’m also just going to continue to say that a 400 page why a mystery is a really hard cell to most teenagers. How do I know this? Because I’m a high school English teacher and I’m constantly giving books to my kids and I know that books this long are really hard to get them engaged in and this one which was a slow moving book would be a real challenge for them.
I think my major problem was that she keeps extolling how she’s their best friend and she loves them so much but literally anytime anything comes up. She thinks it’s one of them. Her loyalty seems very fragile and she spends a lot of time thinking each one of them has done these horrible things. Also, because she makes them sound so bad so often it’s really hard to like these three boys and to hope that they are in fact, not involved in the murders.
I’m also just going to continue to say that a 400 page why a mystery is a really hard cell to most teenagers. How do I know this? Because I’m a high school English teacher and I’m constantly giving books to my kids and I know that books this long are really hard to get them engaged in and this one which was a slow moving book would be a real challenge for them.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review from an advanced copy from NetGalley
I give this 4 ⭐️ ! This was certainly a YA novel and definitely would suggest it to 14+. Hayden who is the FMC is friends with the Abbott triples. One murder happens on the Abbott’s property and obviously they are to blame and then maybe a year later another murder happens at the school but naturally everyone blames the Abbott boys. It was a short slow burn book I enjoyed it and can be read in one sitting. I gave this 4 stars because I didn’t like the jump from 1st person for the present story and then when there was a “flashback” it switched t0 3rd person. Also the brothers names are Henry, Adam and Bram. Well, the second murder Henry enlists his best friend Hayden to investigate the case on her own BUT when she started to question him he would get hesitant, angry and uneasy with her but it was his idea. That made no sense to me at all. Overall I did enjoy this quick “who done it” and I obviously guessed the killer wrong and I’m usually pretty good at that. LOL, so kudos.
I give this 4 ⭐️ ! This was certainly a YA novel and definitely would suggest it to 14+. Hayden who is the FMC is friends with the Abbott triples. One murder happens on the Abbott’s property and obviously they are to blame and then maybe a year later another murder happens at the school but naturally everyone blames the Abbott boys. It was a short slow burn book I enjoyed it and can be read in one sitting. I gave this 4 stars because I didn’t like the jump from 1st person for the present story and then when there was a “flashback” it switched t0 3rd person. Also the brothers names are Henry, Adam and Bram. Well, the second murder Henry enlists his best friend Hayden to investigate the case on her own BUT when she started to question him he would get hesitant, angry and uneasy with her but it was his idea. That made no sense to me at all. Overall I did enjoy this quick “who done it” and I obviously guessed the killer wrong and I’m usually pretty good at that. LOL, so kudos.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🅰️🅰️🅰️
Beware the Abbott Boys is a really good YA thriller that seems nice in the start and gets actually great further in. I'd read this book in one sitting if it wasn't for the work waiting for me
The tension, the secrets, the mysties! It all tuned up from just good to amazing and I couldn't get enough of it. The characters are lovely, the plot is unpredictable and full of twists my wild theories could never capture (I want to reread it now that I know everything!), and the book is general was outstanding despite all my expectations. Even the atmosphere kicked in and I started feeling it all around. I loved the way it all played out for everyone in the end, that's always a great worry in books with so many possibilities!
A great thriller for the YA audience that is full of new details every second (and a really good comfortable mystery for readers who were like me thinking they've overgrown YA)!
- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Beware the Abbott Boys is a really good YA thriller that seems nice in the start and gets actually great further in. I'd read this book in one sitting if it wasn't for the work waiting for me
The tension, the secrets, the mysties! It all tuned up from just good to amazing and I couldn't get enough of it. The characters are lovely, the plot is unpredictable and full of twists my wild theories could never capture (I want to reread it now that I know everything!), and the book is general was outstanding despite all my expectations. Even the atmosphere kicked in and I started feeling it all around. I loved the way it all played out for everyone in the end, that's always a great worry in books with so many possibilities!
A great thriller for the YA audience that is full of new details every second (and a really good comfortable mystery for readers who were like me thinking they've overgrown YA)!
- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews