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Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die
One isolated cabin. One cheating boyfriend. One plan to get even.
When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover that they've each been dating the same man, what starts as outrage quickly spirals into a plot for revenge. Together they hatch a plan to lure their boyfriend to a romantic getaway in a secluded cabin at the top of a snow-covered mountain.
Only what was meant to be harmless payback soon takes a chilling turn when their not-so-adoring boyfriend is found dead in the cabin.
Stranded and snowed in, the women begin to look at each other with increasing suspicion. And as tensions rise, hidden motives come to light. To survive, each woman must confront her own demons as they fight to uncover if one of them is the killer, or if something else lurks in the freezing wilderness, waiting to pick them off one by one.
When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover that they've each been dating the same man, what starts as outrage quickly spirals into a plot for revenge. Together they hatch a plan to lure their boyfriend to a romantic getaway in a secluded cabin at the top of a snow-covered mountain.
Only what was meant to be harmless payback soon takes a chilling turn when their not-so-adoring boyfriend is found dead in the cabin.
Stranded and snowed in, the women begin to look at each other with increasing suspicion. And as tensions rise, hidden motives come to light. To survive, each woman must confront her own demons as they fight to uncover if one of them is the killer, or if something else lurks in the freezing wilderness, waiting to pick them off one by one.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 14, 2026
About the author
Mallory Arnold
3 books319 followersMallory Arnold is an editor and writer who resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and three cats. She's part of the Women's Fiction Writer's Association and enjoys writing drama, thrillers, and horror.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 815 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
— 3.5 / 5 stars
Okay, can we talk about this plot for a second? Because the moment the book told me that three women find out they’ve all been dating the same cheating asshole and decide to get revenge, I was SOLD. Immediately. Sign me the fuck up. I didn’t even need another sentence, I was already invested.
And honestly? The book was ridiculously bingeable. I picked it up and barely wanted to put it down because I needed to know how these women were going to expose this man and make him pay. Watching them team up instead of turning on each other was genuinely satisfying.
Now… here’s where my complaints begin.
The biggest missed opportunity in this entire book was the cult subplot. The second the author mentioned it, my ears perked up. I’m fascinated by cult psychology, the recruitment, the manipulation, the escape, the power dynamics, all of it. So when the story casually dropped the existence of this creepy cult, I was like, “Oh hell yes, we’re about to get into something dark.”
And then… absolutely fucking nothing.
No deep dive. No meaningful backstory. No explanation of how it worked, how people got trapped, how they escaped, or what life inside actually looked like. You cannot dangle a creepy cult in front of me like a shiny toy and then snatch it away. Give me lore. Give me trauma. Give me chaos. Give me something more. I mean there were moments but they didn't really satisfy me because we didn't really knew the full backstory and sadly i wanted that
The twist itself? I hate to say it, but I saw it coming from miles away. After reading so many thrillers, it just didn’t catch me off guard. I kept hoping for that jaw-dropping moment where I’d have to put the book down and stare at the wall, but instead I was mostly nodding like, “Yep… figured that.” It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t surprising.
That said, the characters absolutely carried this story for me. One thing I really appreciated was that each woman had such a distinct personality that they never blended together. You could tell exactly who was speaking without needing dialogue tags every other line.
Cham was an absolute icon.Her sarcasm? Elite. Every time she opened her mouth, I knew I was about to be entertained.
Ruby, on the other hand, was quiet, gentle, and incredibly perceptive. People underestimated her because she wasn’t loud, but honestly, she might’ve been the smartest person in the room. Watching others mistake kindness for weakness frustrated me so much.
And Nora? What a powerhouse. The fact that she kept going despite everything life threw at her especially while carrying the weight of motherhood, made me admire her even more.
Still, there were a few moments that made me raise an eyebrow so hard it nearly flew off my face. The escape sequence felt a little too convenient. You’re telling me these women are severely injured, exhausted, one of them is pregnant, they’re dragging a body around, and somehow they manage to trek what feels like an impossible distance? Girl… be serious. I know fiction asks for suspension of disbelief, but that part really tested mine.
Then there’s Jason, who was an absolute fucking piece of shit from beginning to end. No notes there. And Thalia—Becca—whatever name she was going by, I wanted more. She seemed like she had all this knowledge about the cult, all this potential to add depth to the story, and yet when it mattered most, it felt like the narrative barely scratched the surface.
So no, I didn’t hate this book. In fact, I actually had a lot of fun with it. It was fast, entertaining, and easy to devour in a slump. But I also walked away feeling like it could have been so much more. Flesh out the cult, make the twist hit harder, tighten up the ending, and this could’ve easily been a five-star read for me.
— Overall, it landed somewhere in that frustrating middle ground where I genuinely enjoyed myself while simultaneously yelling, “YOU HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL!” every few chapters. 💌
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 26 June , 2026
women taking revenge on their cheating boyfriend? Yeah, sign me the tf up 🤌🏻🤌🏻
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, can we talk about this plot for a second? Because the moment the book told me that three women find out they’ve all been dating the same cheating asshole and decide to get revenge, I was SOLD. Immediately. Sign me the fuck up. I didn’t even need another sentence, I was already invested.
And honestly? The book was ridiculously bingeable. I picked it up and barely wanted to put it down because I needed to know how these women were going to expose this man and make him pay. Watching them team up instead of turning on each other was genuinely satisfying.
Now… here’s where my complaints begin.
The biggest missed opportunity in this entire book was the cult subplot. The second the author mentioned it, my ears perked up. I’m fascinated by cult psychology, the recruitment, the manipulation, the escape, the power dynamics, all of it. So when the story casually dropped the existence of this creepy cult, I was like, “Oh hell yes, we’re about to get into something dark.”
And then… absolutely fucking nothing.
No deep dive. No meaningful backstory. No explanation of how it worked, how people got trapped, how they escaped, or what life inside actually looked like. You cannot dangle a creepy cult in front of me like a shiny toy and then snatch it away. Give me lore. Give me trauma. Give me chaos. Give me something more. I mean there were moments but they didn't really satisfy me because we didn't really knew the full backstory and sadly i wanted that
The twist itself? I hate to say it, but I saw it coming from miles away. After reading so many thrillers, it just didn’t catch me off guard. I kept hoping for that jaw-dropping moment where I’d have to put the book down and stare at the wall, but instead I was mostly nodding like, “Yep… figured that.” It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t surprising.
That said, the characters absolutely carried this story for me. One thing I really appreciated was that each woman had such a distinct personality that they never blended together. You could tell exactly who was speaking without needing dialogue tags every other line.
Cham was an absolute icon.Her sarcasm? Elite. Every time she opened her mouth, I knew I was about to be entertained.
Ruby, on the other hand, was quiet, gentle, and incredibly perceptive. People underestimated her because she wasn’t loud, but honestly, she might’ve been the smartest person in the room. Watching others mistake kindness for weakness frustrated me so much.
And Nora? What a powerhouse. The fact that she kept going despite everything life threw at her especially while carrying the weight of motherhood, made me admire her even more.
Still, there were a few moments that made me raise an eyebrow so hard it nearly flew off my face. The escape sequence felt a little too convenient. You’re telling me these women are severely injured, exhausted, one of them is pregnant, they’re dragging a body around, and somehow they manage to trek what feels like an impossible distance? Girl… be serious. I know fiction asks for suspension of disbelief, but that part really tested mine.
Then there’s Jason, who was an absolute fucking piece of shit from beginning to end. No notes there. And Thalia—Becca—whatever name she was going by, I wanted more. She seemed like she had all this knowledge about the cult, all this potential to add depth to the story, and yet when it mattered most, it felt like the narrative barely scratched the surface.
So no, I didn’t hate this book. In fact, I actually had a lot of fun with it. It was fast, entertaining, and easy to devour in a slump. But I also walked away feeling like it could have been so much more. Flesh out the cult, make the twist hit harder, tighten up the ending, and this could’ve easily been a five-star read for me.
— Overall, it landed somewhere in that frustrating middle ground where I genuinely enjoyed myself while simultaneously yelling, “YOU HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL!” every few chapters. 💌
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 26 June , 2026
women taking revenge on their cheating boyfriend? Yeah, sign me the tf up 🤌🏻🤌🏻
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2026
Finding out you’re not the only woman dating the same man is bad enough… but finding him dead is a whole different story. From the moment I picked this up, I was completely drawn in and couldn’t wait to see how it would all unfold.
Ruby, Nora and Cham are three women who have never met before, until they discover they’re all in a relationship with the same man, Jason. Instead of walking away, they decide he’s going to learn a lesson he’ll never forget. Their revenge leads them to a secluded cabin surrounded by snow-covered mountains, but things take a shocking turn when Jason is found dead. With no idea who the killer is, the women are forced to question everything—and everyone.
I loved the premise of this book, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The mystery kept me engaged throughout, and I was forever trying to work out who was telling the truth. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something happened to make me rethink my theory.
I really liked the three main characters. They were all different, and each brought something to the story. Their relationships with one another changed as the plot unfolded, and I enjoyed seeing how they dealt with the impossible situation they found themselves in.
The isolated, snowy setting was one of my favourite parts of the book. It created such a tense atmosphere and made the story feel even more unsettling. It had that classic locked-room mystery feel where no one seemed completely innocent, and I loved the constant sense of uncertainty.
Mallory Arnold’s writing flowed effortlessly, making this a quick and enjoyable read. The short chapters and steady pace kept the story moving, while the twists kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. It was one of those books where I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter.”
If you enjoy psychological thrillers packed with secrets, revenge, suspense and plenty of unexpected twists, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a read. It was an entertaining story that kept me guessing until the end and was a lot of fun to read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Mallory Arnold for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: 14th July 2026.
Ruby, Nora and Cham are three women who have never met before, until they discover they’re all in a relationship with the same man, Jason. Instead of walking away, they decide he’s going to learn a lesson he’ll never forget. Their revenge leads them to a secluded cabin surrounded by snow-covered mountains, but things take a shocking turn when Jason is found dead. With no idea who the killer is, the women are forced to question everything—and everyone.
I loved the premise of this book, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The mystery kept me engaged throughout, and I was forever trying to work out who was telling the truth. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something happened to make me rethink my theory.
I really liked the three main characters. They were all different, and each brought something to the story. Their relationships with one another changed as the plot unfolded, and I enjoyed seeing how they dealt with the impossible situation they found themselves in.
The isolated, snowy setting was one of my favourite parts of the book. It created such a tense atmosphere and made the story feel even more unsettling. It had that classic locked-room mystery feel where no one seemed completely innocent, and I loved the constant sense of uncertainty.
Mallory Arnold’s writing flowed effortlessly, making this a quick and enjoyable read. The short chapters and steady pace kept the story moving, while the twists kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. It was one of those books where I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter.”
If you enjoy psychological thrillers packed with secrets, revenge, suspense and plenty of unexpected twists, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a read. It was an entertaining story that kept me guessing until the end and was a lot of fun to read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Mallory Arnold for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: 14th July 2026.
July 14, 2026
Three women discover that they’ve all been dating the same man. Not only has he been cheating, they each gave him money, unknowing it was a con. They decide to turn the tables on him, and what better plan to do so than an isolated cabin at the top of a mountain? The only way in (or out) is via a janky gondola. What could go wrong?! You will have to pick this book up to find out!
I liked how the novel spent a good deal of time from each of the women’s perspectives. It gave us a good glimpse into their lives as well as their relationship with Jason. My only complaint is that I kept getting confused between Ruby and Nora. I don’t know if it was because their professions were kind of similar, but I had a hard time keeping them straight. I had no problem following Cham’s perspective; her personality traits were written perfectly and distinctly. Once the action started, it was relentless and didn’t really follow a structured formula, which was nice. Was it completely absurd? Absolutely! Did I like it? Yep!
I need to swing back to the author’s previous book!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked how the novel spent a good deal of time from each of the women’s perspectives. It gave us a good glimpse into their lives as well as their relationship with Jason. My only complaint is that I kept getting confused between Ruby and Nora. I don’t know if it was because their professions were kind of similar, but I had a hard time keeping them straight. I had no problem following Cham’s perspective; her personality traits were written perfectly and distinctly. Once the action started, it was relentless and didn’t really follow a structured formula, which was nice. Was it completely absurd? Absolutely! Did I like it? Yep!
I need to swing back to the author’s previous book!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2026
As long as you go into Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die with an open mind, you’re going to fall for it hook, line, and sinker. Well, as long you like your thrills with quite a bit of gore. You see, Arnold’s newest novel was a rollercoaster ride of lightning-fast pacing, nonstop thrills and chills, and bloody feminine rage. Bringing together three women as they took revenge on a badly behaving man, I was blown away by the natural-feeling twists in this messy but fun revenge thriller-slash-horror book mashup. After all, we’ve all been in these women’s shoes and who hasn’t dreamt of settling the score? Okay. So maybe I’d never think of taking things quite this far, but the deliciously unhinged quality to this one-sitting read was only over-the-top in the best possible way. Campy, cathartic, and laced with dark humor, it was like crossing The Final Girl Support Group and John Tucker Must Die…but oh so much darker. After all, things really went off the rails towards the end. So if you love an isolated locked-room setting, untrustworthy characters, and classic slasher vibes, grab this one now. Just be sure to read this twisty—and twisted—novel with the lights on… Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if you love:
- Thriller-meets-horror storylines
- Short chapters
- Unhinged storylines
- Tons of thrills
- Lovable characters
- Campy reads
- A locked-room setting
- Dark humor
- Cult-like elements
- Fast pacing
- A character you’ll love to hate
- Nonstop twists
- Unreliable narrators
- Multiple POVs
- A popcorn-esque feel
SYNOPSIS:
When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover that they've each been dating the same man, what starts as outrage quickly spirals into a plot for revenge. Together they hatch a plan to lure their boyfriend to a romantic getaway in a secluded cabin at the top of a snow-covered mountain.
Only what was meant to be harmless payback soon takes a chilling turn when their not-so-adoring boyfriend is found dead in the cabin.
Stranded and snowed in, the women begin to look at each other with increasing suspicion. And as tensions rise, hidden motives come to light. To survive, each woman must confront her own demons as they fight to uncover if one of them is the killer, or if something else lurks in the freezing wilderness, waiting to pick them off one by one.
Thank you Mallory Arnold and Poisoned Pen Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 14, 2026
Content warning: murder, death, body horror, violence, gore, death of a parent, child abuse, physical abuse, gun violence, infidelity, toxic relationship, stalking, drug use, mention of: child death, pregnancy
Read if you love:
- Thriller-meets-horror storylines
- Short chapters
- Unhinged storylines
- Tons of thrills
- Lovable characters
- Campy reads
- A locked-room setting
- Dark humor
- Cult-like elements
- Fast pacing
- A character you’ll love to hate
- Nonstop twists
- Unreliable narrators
- Multiple POVs
- A popcorn-esque feel
SYNOPSIS:
When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover that they've each been dating the same man, what starts as outrage quickly spirals into a plot for revenge. Together they hatch a plan to lure their boyfriend to a romantic getaway in a secluded cabin at the top of a snow-covered mountain.
Only what was meant to be harmless payback soon takes a chilling turn when their not-so-adoring boyfriend is found dead in the cabin.
Stranded and snowed in, the women begin to look at each other with increasing suspicion. And as tensions rise, hidden motives come to light. To survive, each woman must confront her own demons as they fight to uncover if one of them is the killer, or if something else lurks in the freezing wilderness, waiting to pick them off one by one.
Thank you Mallory Arnold and Poisoned Pen Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 14, 2026
Content warning: murder, death, body horror, violence, gore, death of a parent, child abuse, physical abuse, gun violence, infidelity, toxic relationship, stalking, drug use, mention of: child death, pregnancy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
”Love and loss, right and wrong, soon it will be true. Sleep tonight and live to fight, till another day dawns anew.”
i loved this authors debut, so i’m just disappointed with this one. when you pitch something as a more slasher version of John Tucker Must Die, safe to say i’ll be expecting that from the actual story. we do have the 3 timing, loser boyfriend and the women gathering together to get revenge but the outcome was a bore.
i felt like the decision to make this take a cult turn was so unoriginal and didn’t match well with the set up. Cham, Nora and Judy were fine but i was getting them confused at first cause nothing about them stood out to me. more random things just kept getting added to their backstories too, i just thought the second half fell apart.
➜ thanks to NetGalley, the author and Poison Pen Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.
i loved this authors debut, so i’m just disappointed with this one. when you pitch something as a more slasher version of John Tucker Must Die, safe to say i’ll be expecting that from the actual story. we do have the 3 timing, loser boyfriend and the women gathering together to get revenge but the outcome was a bore.
i felt like the decision to make this take a cult turn was so unoriginal and didn’t match well with the set up. Cham, Nora and Judy were fine but i was getting them confused at first cause nothing about them stood out to me. more random things just kept getting added to their backstories too, i just thought the second half fell apart.
➜ thanks to NetGalley, the author and Poison Pen Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.
April 8, 2026
3/5 Stars — 🔪 Trash Men, Cult Ties, and the Power of a Group Chat
Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! This book was absolutely bananas. I’ve heard of scammers, but a man successfully dating three women at once for six months to three years? That is a level of "trash man" behavior I wasn't prepared for.
The Breakdown:
The Trio: I actually really liked Cham, Nora, and Ruby. They were all so different and had their own unique voices, which made it easy to root for them as they bonded over getting bamboozled. The "women sticking together" energy was easily the best part of the book.
The "Wait, What?" Factor: This story goes from 0 to 100 very fast. We have fugue states, adoption mysteries, and potential cults, which was a lot to take in. While it was definitely original, there were so many twists that it actually felt like it took me forever to get through, which is rare for me with this genre.
The Ending: The main conclusion was earned and I liked how it wrapped up... but then there was a potential cliffhanger at the very end that made me majorly eye-roll. I’m happy with where it ended; I definitely wouldn't read a sequel.
A solid "popcorn" read if you want to see three women take down a world-class jerk, just be prepared for a lot of plot.
Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! This book was absolutely bananas. I’ve heard of scammers, but a man successfully dating three women at once for six months to three years? That is a level of "trash man" behavior I wasn't prepared for.
The Breakdown:
The Trio: I actually really liked Cham, Nora, and Ruby. They were all so different and had their own unique voices, which made it easy to root for them as they bonded over getting bamboozled. The "women sticking together" energy was easily the best part of the book.
The "Wait, What?" Factor: This story goes from 0 to 100 very fast. We have fugue states, adoption mysteries, and potential cults, which was a lot to take in. While it was definitely original, there were so many twists that it actually felt like it took me forever to get through, which is rare for me with this genre.
The Ending: The main conclusion was earned and I liked how it wrapped up... but then there was a potential cliffhanger at the very end that made me majorly eye-roll. I’m happy with where it ended; I definitely wouldn't read a sequel.
A solid "popcorn" read if you want to see three women take down a world-class jerk, just be prepared for a lot of plot.
July 14, 2026
*2.5 stars// This was okay but definitely not a book that will stick with me. It’s very basic. Following 3 women who find out they’re dating the same man. They conspire to get revenge on him that involves a secluded cabin in the mountains. Of course things go awry and not at all according to plan.
I did like the 3 women. They were so different from one another, almost to a stereotypical level. A shy Kindergarten teacher, outgoing athletic coach, and a tough no bullshit mechanic. Though I feel like they should’ve seen all the red flags much sooner in the relationship they thought they had with this man but for the plot, I understand. A few other things irritated me but they’re too spoilery to mention.
A very easy and fast cult thriller. Something you can quickly fly through if you’re curious what happens at the end.
Full review to come on my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@hollyheartsbooks...
I did like the 3 women. They were so different from one another, almost to a stereotypical level. A shy Kindergarten teacher, outgoing athletic coach, and a tough no bullshit mechanic. Though I feel like they should’ve seen all the red flags much sooner in the relationship they thought they had with this man but for the plot, I understand. A few other things irritated me but they’re too spoilery to mention.
A very easy and fast cult thriller. Something you can quickly fly through if you’re curious what happens at the end.
Full review to come on my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@hollyheartsbooks...
February 25, 2026
I loved it! I was a huge fan of the authors previous book and I knew this one would be good.
Three women’s POV leading up to their paths crossing with one common denominator.. they all have the same BF and he has lied, cheated and stolen from all of them. What starts out as a bid to get a confession of his crimes turns into a ploy for revenge and things get messy!
Short fun chapters, fast read, entertaining loved it!
Three women’s POV leading up to their paths crossing with one common denominator.. they all have the same BF and he has lied, cheated and stolen from all of them. What starts out as a bid to get a confession of his crimes turns into a ploy for revenge and things get messy!
Short fun chapters, fast read, entertaining loved it!
July 14, 2026
Thank you to Libro.fm for the ALC of this book.
I really enjoyed this one. Although each of the women had their own personalities, and there was a narrator for each of them on the audiobook, I did still get confused on occasion who we were following in each chapter. However, the plot of this one was really good and I was so intrigued. I listened to most of this in one evening, finishing it off the next day. A really gripping thriller that I enjoyed from beginning to end.
I really enjoyed this one. Although each of the women had their own personalities, and there was a narrator for each of them on the audiobook, I did still get confused on occasion who we were following in each chapter. However, the plot of this one was really good and I was so intrigued. I listened to most of this in one evening, finishing it off the next day. A really gripping thriller that I enjoyed from beginning to end.
June 7, 2026
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO NETGALLEY FOR THIS ARC.
John Tucker Must Die but there’s a murder mountain with a possible cult commune.
Three girls find out they’ve all been dating the same guy. Not only do they discover he’s betrayed them but he’s also convinced each of them to “gift” something of great value to him. While this no-good, cheating scoundrel is dodging their calls, the girls begin to bond and concoct a plan to get back at this heartbreaker. But the plan takes a terrible turn….
This was very, very good. The beginning adds a great background into not only the ladies but the environment they’ve found themselves in. And the rest is a non-stop thrill. 4 stars ✨
John Tucker Must Die but there’s a murder mountain with a possible cult commune.
Three girls find out they’ve all been dating the same guy. Not only do they discover he’s betrayed them but he’s also convinced each of them to “gift” something of great value to him. While this no-good, cheating scoundrel is dodging their calls, the girls begin to bond and concoct a plan to get back at this heartbreaker. But the plan takes a terrible turn….
This was very, very good. The beginning adds a great background into not only the ladies but the environment they’ve found themselves in. And the rest is a non-stop thrill. 4 stars ✨
February 7, 2026
This was nonstop female revenge fun! Three women unknowingly were dating the same man. How far will they go to get back at him?
This book didn’t skip a beat! Multiple POV, short chapters, and I loved the police transcripts scattered throughout!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This book didn’t skip a beat! Multiple POV, short chapters, and I loved the police transcripts scattered throughout!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Want to Read
February 11, 2026thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for access this ARC
Currently Reading
July 14, 2026ARC received! Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press!
This sounds like such a fun Summer Horror. I'm hoping to get to it this week, because it sounds like it's going to be a perfect read for me.
This sounds like such a fun Summer Horror. I'm hoping to get to it this week, because it sounds like it's going to be a perfect read for me.
March 5, 2026
LOL. This book is just ridiculous, silly, unhinged fun. It starts off pretty grounded by quickly establishing how the three very different (but I think all likeable) GFs of Love Fraudster Jason meet, discover his perfidy, and consider whether and how to seek collective vengeance. Anyone who consumes a lot of romance scam content will appreciate this premise, as did I. From there, the book admittedly goes off the rails in a few entirely different directions, with additional and seemingly random subplots and characters, but I’d say in an overall enjoyable and unobjectionable way where you’re like, Well… alrighty then. Whatever you say! I was sick when I read this, and it all felt very fever dreamy, like “…wait, what is even happening right now again…?” — so I waited until my own literal fever subsided to review it, but it seemed to hold up okay. This was a good couch and Kleenex, reading-while-ill book, which I imagine is akin to a beach, airplane, or popcorn read? There was a bit of uncertainty and perhaps even sweetness in the end that I appreciated. 3.5 all-over-the-place stars. And please keep the wonderful dad joke punny titles coming!
Many thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this book, scheduled for release on July 14, 2026.
Many thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this book, scheduled for release on July 14, 2026.
July 12, 2026
This was such a fun thriller and one I’d absolutely recommend for Summerween or to save for your fall TBR. The isolated mountain cabin, relentless snowstorm, and growing sense of paranoia created the perfect creepy atmosphere, giving the whole book strong slasher vibes from beginning to end.
What immediately sold me was the premise. It has a John Tucker Must Die energy, with three women discovering they’re dating the same cheating jerk and teaming up for revenge. Of course, everything spirals spectacularly out of control, and watching the revenge plot unravel into complete chaos made this such an entertaining ride.
You’ll definitely have to suspend your disbelief as the story escalates, but I honestly didn’t mind because I was having so much fun. I loved the themes of female rage, empowerment, revenge, and the constant feeling that no one could be trusted. The frantic pacing and mounting paranoia kept me invested, making this a perfect popcorn thriller for readers who love over the top suspense with plenty of twists.
The audiobook was an absolute vibe. Since the story is told through multiple points of view, the multicast narration was the perfect choice and made each woman feel distinct from the others. Victoria Connolly, Stacy Gonzalez, Alexandra Hunter, and Gary Tiedemann all delivered fantastic performances, capturing the wide range of emotions the story demanded—from betrayal and anger to fear, suspicion, and desperation. It’s one I’d definitely recommend experiencing on audio.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Isolated cabin thrillers
* Slasher inspired suspense
* Female rage and revenge stories
* Unhinged, morally gray characters
* Snowed in survival mysteries
* Fast paced popcorn thrillers
July 15, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen for the pre-release copy of Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die by Mallory Arnold. This is my honest review.
If you're into slashers set in isolated small towns with big snowstorms, this is your book. If you enjoyed Until Dawn (the video game, not the movie with a different story), then you'll love this one.
Once the set up is done, the story ends up in an isolated mountainside group of cabins, only truly accessible by gondola, in the middle of a massive snowstorm, and that's when the crap hits the fan. Things go crazy outside their planned scare.
Cults? Isolated setting? One by one picking off? Twists within twists? Yep.
Lots of fun, four stars, recommended for horror/slasher/quick reads.
If you're into slashers set in isolated small towns with big snowstorms, this is your book. If you enjoyed Until Dawn (the video game, not the movie with a different story), then you'll love this one.
Once the set up is done, the story ends up in an isolated mountainside group of cabins, only truly accessible by gondola, in the middle of a massive snowstorm, and that's when the crap hits the fan. Things go crazy outside their planned scare.
Cults? Isolated setting? One by one picking off? Twists within twists? Yep.
Lots of fun, four stars, recommended for horror/slasher/quick reads.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
You know.... good for her. And by her I mean all 3 of these lovely ladies. The revenge might not have gone as planned but, Jason got his... And yes, Jason was hit garbage but I still kind of want to know what led him to the lifestyle that ultimately got him killed. I know there's no excuse for doing horrible crap but it would still be interesting to know his background. I really enjoyed the fact that this was a true women supporting women book(except for that one b*tch). Moral of the story? Cults = Bad. Cheating = Bad. Skipping the organ donation line = Bad.
July 16, 2026
Nora, Ruby, and Cham may have their ups and downs, but at the end of the day they have the perfect boyfriend: Jason! That is, until the girls all end up in the same place and, unlucky for Jason, find out they're all dating the same guy. After grieving over it and quickly forming a sisterhood, the three girls decide to plan their revenge so Jason never cheats and scams ever again. A ski trip to a cabin on top of a mountain in a small town that all the locals say is cursed seems like the right place to do it, but when Jason ends up dead instead of confessing to his wrongdoings, the girls are all pointing fingers at which one of them murdered him. However, they may not be alone.
I absolutely hate the title of this, but the synopsis (and also the really sick deluxe edition edges?!?!) caught my eye. Comparing anything to the movie John Tucker Must Die will perk my ears up, and this book sounded like so much fun! Immediately upon starting it, I was obsessed with this book. Cham reminds me so much of Juno from The Descent, and that will basically make me pick up anything.
One of my favorite parts about this book was how much of an imbecile Jason was. It's such a man thing to do to date three women at the same time, give them your entire government name, mix up your stories, fake where you live, and also keep your dating/ cheating pool in the same town. The AUDACITY.
There are a few 'twists' in this book that make you wonder where the story is headed and how horror the book will be. I will say, I think the final 'twist,' or really the ending, fell a bit flat for me. I just found the execution of that specific 'twist' was lackluster. I found it rushed and also a bit predictable once the character was escaping the normal stereotypes. I am a big fan of the ending, though, but giving you any more details than that may ruin the experience.
I absolutely hate the title of this, but the synopsis (and also the really sick deluxe edition edges?!?!) caught my eye. Comparing anything to the movie John Tucker Must Die will perk my ears up, and this book sounded like so much fun! Immediately upon starting it, I was obsessed with this book. Cham reminds me so much of Juno from The Descent, and that will basically make me pick up anything.
One of my favorite parts about this book was how much of an imbecile Jason was. It's such a man thing to do to date three women at the same time, give them your entire government name, mix up your stories, fake where you live, and also keep your dating/ cheating pool in the same town. The AUDACITY.
There are a few 'twists' in this book that make you wonder where the story is headed and how horror the book will be. I will say, I think the final 'twist,' or really the ending, fell a bit flat for me. I just found the execution of that specific 'twist' was lackluster. I found it rushed and also a bit predictable once the character was escaping the normal stereotypes. I am a big fan of the ending, though, but giving you any more details than that may ruin the experience.
July 11, 2026
THANK YOU! Net Galley and Poisoned Penn Press for the advanced copy of this title.
I found this to be the perfect summer read. At the center of it all is Jason—a devil 😈 in disguise—who scams three women, Cham, Ruby, and Nora, out of money, tools, and yes... even a kidney.
For me, there were a few unbelievable things about the characters' stories, and the fact that Jason swiftly began pulling away from each woman after getting what he wanted should have been a major telltale sign.
By chance, the women eventually meet and realize they're all dating the same person. As the synopsis suggests, they try to hold Jason accountable through legal channels, but no one takes them seriously. Instead, they're dismissed as scorned women seeking revenge, and without any proof that Jason ever promised to repay them, the authorities see their cases as little more than unfortunate lessons rather than actual crimes.
That part makes sense because we're not talking about someone borrowing $100—we're talking about tens of thousands of dollars, which is probably my biggest issue with the story. In today's world, I just can't imagine handing over that kind of money because someone promises it's a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" or says they'll double your investment. I don’t care if he’s dipped in gold; if it sounds unbelievable, it usually is. But when you do things in the name of “love” it tends to cloud ☁︎ your judgment and stops you from listening to the voice in your head that says …” drop kick this clown and be done”.
Things really go off the rails when the women decide to take matters into their own hands by luring Jason to a remote cabin during a blizzard to force a confession. On paper, it sounds ridiculous—I know—but that's where the story takes a surprising turn. What I enjoyed most wasn't the revenge plot; it was the bond that formed between these women. Out of betrayal came an unexpected friendship, and that relationship became the heart of the story.
While the setup is a little far-fetched and the novel has its flaws, I genuinely enjoyed it. It's not the type of thriller I'd normally gravitate toward, but it was an entertaining read and the perfect book to throw in your beach bag or take on vacation.
I gave this title 4 ✨✨✨✨ stars.
I found this to be the perfect summer read. At the center of it all is Jason—a devil 😈 in disguise—who scams three women, Cham, Ruby, and Nora, out of money, tools, and yes... even a kidney.
For me, there were a few unbelievable things about the characters' stories, and the fact that Jason swiftly began pulling away from each woman after getting what he wanted should have been a major telltale sign.
By chance, the women eventually meet and realize they're all dating the same person. As the synopsis suggests, they try to hold Jason accountable through legal channels, but no one takes them seriously. Instead, they're dismissed as scorned women seeking revenge, and without any proof that Jason ever promised to repay them, the authorities see their cases as little more than unfortunate lessons rather than actual crimes.
That part makes sense because we're not talking about someone borrowing $100—we're talking about tens of thousands of dollars, which is probably my biggest issue with the story. In today's world, I just can't imagine handing over that kind of money because someone promises it's a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" or says they'll double your investment. I don’t care if he’s dipped in gold; if it sounds unbelievable, it usually is. But when you do things in the name of “love” it tends to cloud ☁︎ your judgment and stops you from listening to the voice in your head that says …” drop kick this clown and be done”.
Things really go off the rails when the women decide to take matters into their own hands by luring Jason to a remote cabin during a blizzard to force a confession. On paper, it sounds ridiculous—I know—but that's where the story takes a surprising turn. What I enjoyed most wasn't the revenge plot; it was the bond that formed between these women. Out of betrayal came an unexpected friendship, and that relationship became the heart of the story.
While the setup is a little far-fetched and the novel has its flaws, I genuinely enjoyed it. It's not the type of thriller I'd normally gravitate toward, but it was an entertaining read and the perfect book to throw in your beach bag or take on vacation.
I gave this title 4 ✨✨✨✨ stars.
February 4, 2026
I went into this book only knowing the basics about it: three women find themselves dating the same man and they get him up to some cabin to seek revenge. I was NOT expecting everything else that went on. This was an edge-of-your-seat thriller that I could not get enough of. However, the very ending left me wanting more, but I’m sure that was the author just playing with our heads.
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc!
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc!
May 16, 2026
I love a creepy, isolated cabin setting with cult vibes in a story! It starts off feeling a bit like the movie John Tucker Must Die as three women discover they’ve all been dating the same man and decide they want payback. I really enjoyed the multiple POV chapters and the inclusion of police transcripts throughout the story. It was fast-paced, twisty, and I loved how everything played out.
One isolated cabin. One cheating boyfriend. One plan for revenge.
When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover they’ve each been dating the same man, what begins as outrage quickly spirals into a dangerous plan for payback. Together, they lure their boyfriend to a secluded cabin on a snow-covered mountain for what’s supposed to be a harmless getaway.
But things take a chilling turn when their not-so-adoring boyfriend ends up dead.
Stranded and snowed in, the women begin to suspect one another as tensions rise and hidden motives come to light. To survive, each woman must confront her own demons while trying to uncover whether one of them is the killer, or if something far more sinister is lurking in the freezing wilderness, waiting to pick them off one by one.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: Jul 14, 2026
One isolated cabin. One cheating boyfriend. One plan for revenge.
When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover they’ve each been dating the same man, what begins as outrage quickly spirals into a dangerous plan for payback. Together, they lure their boyfriend to a secluded cabin on a snow-covered mountain for what’s supposed to be a harmless getaway.
But things take a chilling turn when their not-so-adoring boyfriend ends up dead.
Stranded and snowed in, the women begin to suspect one another as tensions rise and hidden motives come to light. To survive, each woman must confront her own demons while trying to uncover whether one of them is the killer, or if something far more sinister is lurking in the freezing wilderness, waiting to pick them off one by one.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: Jul 14, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Big thanks to netgalley, Mallory Arnold, and Poison Pen Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!
my first arc, and this book did not disappoint in the slightest. The concept was so interesting, and for once, it actually delivered extremely well. Think john tucker must die meets a culty horror with tons of female empowerment.
-plot
the scary, spooky vibes were definitely not lacking in this book and in saying you should definitely read this at night in the dark for the full experience. I was hooked from the beginning straight to the end, and the writing style was well paced and easy to understand. I personally would never have gone up that mountain, but that's just me. Also, that ending was absolutely diabolical, thanks.
- Nora, Cham, and Ruby
These girls went through a literal shredder like jesus. These girls deserved so much better and so much more. I loved their friendship in the end, and it definitely saved them.
-Jason
This man was so evil and truly haunted the narrative, which made him so much worse.
Overall, this book was so easy to get into, and it genuinely shocked me that it was quite that good.
my first arc, and this book did not disappoint in the slightest. The concept was so interesting, and for once, it actually delivered extremely well. Think john tucker must die meets a culty horror with tons of female empowerment.
-plot
the scary, spooky vibes were definitely not lacking in this book and in saying you should definitely read this at night in the dark for the full experience. I was hooked from the beginning straight to the end, and the writing style was well paced and easy to understand. I personally would never have gone up that mountain, but that's just me. Also, that ending was absolutely diabolical, thanks.
- Nora, Cham, and Ruby
These girls went through a literal shredder like jesus. These girls deserved so much better and so much more. I loved their friendship in the end, and it definitely saved them.
-Jason
This man was so evil and truly haunted the narrative, which made him so much worse.
Overall, this book was so easy to get into, and it genuinely shocked me that it was quite that good.
May 12, 2026
Cross my Heart, I hope you die, a revenge plot between 3 scorned ex's
I loved the "john tucker must die" vibes of this story! I also thought the very first chapter, which starts at the end of the nights events, really draws you in, because you immediately want to know what happened to get to that point. 3 women, Cham, Nora and Ruby all mention their boyfriend Jason in a chance encounter at Cham's garage, and their lives are turned upside down when they all realize they are dating the same Jason. He has even created 3 different identities to fit each girlfriend. None of them really know who he is, except maybe Cham, who has been dating him the longest. They hatch a revenge plan, with a cabin in the woods, and a faux "slasher move" planned...but the 3 women do not expect what they find on that mountain.
The White Wed cult aspect of this story is super interesting! We all know there are cults out there, but we'd like to think they don't actually do the things we hear about. While the 3 friends go up to Devil's Ridge, unaware of the fact that a cult used to inhabit the area, they also don't expect anyone else will be on this mountain with them. Since Ruby had just inherited this cabin, she has no idea what the friends are in for. As they await Jason's arrival with his "fake" date that they set him up on, they find some odd things in the cabin, but chock it all up to the previous occupants having been hunters. But seriously, buckets of blood sitting in the attic? Total red flag!
I think the idea they come up with to get Jason to confess wasn't exactly planned out as great as they thought. I mean, there is just no way that him admitting on tape that he took their money, while tied to a chair, was going to hold up in court. As the night drags on, apparently nobody in this story is who they seem. As the 3 friends realize they are possibly being hunted by someone, possibly from the White Wed cult, they ironically find themselves in their very own real life slasher movie. As they have to escape to other buildings, they find more evidence that the cult existed, and the horrible things they did. As Ruby's past comes back to haunt her, the friends are not sure they will make it off this mountain alive.
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
""Lo and behold, I'm sitting there at my desk when I hear that just an hour ago, three women covered in blood rode all the way down Devil's Fang Ridge atop a sealed body bag.""
""Everyone in the department is calling you "the Ice Queens." Can you believe it?""
"It's just...weird. Jason is so upset, but his cheeks are bone dry. Like he hasn't shed a single tear."
""I'm sick of it, she says with finality. "I'm sick of men just...getting away with whatever they want.""
"I don't know what it is about a good old-fashioned revenge plot, but man, it really makes you work up an appetite."
"The cabin is not that big. And yet people are vanishing under our noses. Unease is a cold shawl snug around my shoulders."
"We stop again, even though we haven't gone but a few feet, and I stare at the body bag. And then an idea comes to me. A sick, twisted idea. But it may be the only way."
I loved the "john tucker must die" vibes of this story! I also thought the very first chapter, which starts at the end of the nights events, really draws you in, because you immediately want to know what happened to get to that point. 3 women, Cham, Nora and Ruby all mention their boyfriend Jason in a chance encounter at Cham's garage, and their lives are turned upside down when they all realize they are dating the same Jason. He has even created 3 different identities to fit each girlfriend. None of them really know who he is, except maybe Cham, who has been dating him the longest. They hatch a revenge plan, with a cabin in the woods, and a faux "slasher move" planned...but the 3 women do not expect what they find on that mountain.
The White Wed cult aspect of this story is super interesting! We all know there are cults out there, but we'd like to think they don't actually do the things we hear about. While the 3 friends go up to Devil's Ridge, unaware of the fact that a cult used to inhabit the area, they also don't expect anyone else will be on this mountain with them. Since Ruby had just inherited this cabin, she has no idea what the friends are in for. As they await Jason's arrival with his "fake" date that they set him up on, they find some odd things in the cabin, but chock it all up to the previous occupants having been hunters. But seriously, buckets of blood sitting in the attic? Total red flag!
I think the idea they come up with to get Jason to confess wasn't exactly planned out as great as they thought. I mean, there is just no way that him admitting on tape that he took their money, while tied to a chair, was going to hold up in court. As the night drags on, apparently nobody in this story is who they seem. As the 3 friends realize they are possibly being hunted by someone, possibly from the White Wed cult, they ironically find themselves in their very own real life slasher movie. As they have to escape to other buildings, they find more evidence that the cult existed, and the horrible things they did. As Ruby's past comes back to haunt her, the friends are not sure they will make it off this mountain alive.
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
""Lo and behold, I'm sitting there at my desk when I hear that just an hour ago, three women covered in blood rode all the way down Devil's Fang Ridge atop a sealed body bag.""
""Everyone in the department is calling you "the Ice Queens." Can you believe it?""
"It's just...weird. Jason is so upset, but his cheeks are bone dry. Like he hasn't shed a single tear."
""I'm sick of it, she says with finality. "I'm sick of men just...getting away with whatever they want.""
"I don't know what it is about a good old-fashioned revenge plot, but man, it really makes you work up an appetite."
"The cabin is not that big. And yet people are vanishing under our noses. Unease is a cold shawl snug around my shoulders."
"We stop again, even though we haven't gone but a few feet, and I stare at the body bag. And then an idea comes to me. A sick, twisted idea. But it may be the only way."
April 19, 2026
Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die is a bit of a mixed one for me. I was very much into it at the start, I honestly couldn’t put it down and wouldn’t stop thinking about it all day. The first 40% were genuinely great. I was hooked, invested and ready for a twisty ride.
And then it kinda slowly lost me.
We’re following three main characters, which sounds great in theory, but in practice it got a little muddled. I had to pause multiple times and go “wait… who’s this again?” more than once throughout the book.
The background we get about the characters definitely helped to understand and sympathize with them, but they still felt very hollow to me.
The horror elements were very interesting, especially the cult-ish vibes, but it did feel a bit restrained on the gore front.
That said, the setting is so good. The cold, isolated and slightly oppressive vibes always work in horror. There’s also definitely an ode to the “final girl” by the end of it.
You’ll enjoy this book if you’re into:
🔪 final girl energy
❄️ cold, isolated settings
👯♀️ multiple POVs
🕯️ culty / eerie horror vibes
A thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
And then it kinda slowly lost me.
We’re following three main characters, which sounds great in theory, but in practice it got a little muddled. I had to pause multiple times and go “wait… who’s this again?” more than once throughout the book.
The background we get about the characters definitely helped to understand and sympathize with them, but they still felt very hollow to me.
The horror elements were very interesting, especially the cult-ish vibes, but it did feel a bit restrained on the gore front.
That said, the setting is so good. The cold, isolated and slightly oppressive vibes always work in horror. There’s also definitely an ode to the “final girl” by the end of it.
You’ll enjoy this book if you’re into:
🔪 final girl energy
❄️ cold, isolated settings
👯♀️ multiple POVs
🕯️ culty / eerie horror vibes
A thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
July 17, 2026
I had the best time reading this!! 3 women find out they are dating the same man, and he is literally the worst. It’s female revenge and mystery and just when you think you know what’s going on, things will take a crazy turn. I could not stop reading, I was completely enthralled.
I loved how it kept flashing to the past and then showing us the present with the interrogation. I only saw one plot twist coming haha and there were MANY.
I loved how it kept flashing to the past and then showing us the present with the interrogation. I only saw one plot twist coming haha and there were MANY.
July 8, 2026
Yes yes yes! This book had so many of the tropes that I love! There’s first part of the book focuses on setting the scene but the rest of the book pretty quickly becomes unhinged. I loved how different Nora, Ruby, and Cham are but how they came together with a common goal. I was caught by surprise several times throughout the story which I thoroughly enjoyed. Check this out for:
🩸Isolated setting
🩸 Revenge
🩸 Wait, that person wasn’t the killer?
🩸 Cult
🩸 Slasher
🩸 Huge twists
🩸 Multiple POV
This is the PERFECT book to read for spooky season. You’ll get something fast paced with plenty of tension and bodies.
🩸Isolated setting
🩸 Revenge
🩸 Wait, that person wasn’t the killer?
🩸 Cult
🩸 Slasher
🩸 Huge twists
🩸 Multiple POV
This is the PERFECT book to read for spooky season. You’ll get something fast paced with plenty of tension and bodies.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆...𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎. 𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒓."
Female rage, a snowed-in cabin, and one spectacularly terrible man all collide in Mallory Arnold's latest offering. Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover they’ve all been dating the same cheating boyfriend, so naturally they do what any reasonable women would do: lure him to a secluded mountain cabin for a little revenge. But things go from “petty payback” to “oh no, he’s actually dead” shockingly fast. Now they’re stranded in the snow, side-eyeing each other, and trying to figure out whether one of them snapped or if something even darker is at play.
This book absolutely leans into its dark comedy in the first half. The female rage is messy and at times, oddly cathartic. There are definite 𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏 𝑻𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝑫𝒊𝒆 vibes at the start, except instead of a glossy teen revenge romp, we get a much bloodier, twistier version. The dialogue is sharp and biting, and the suspicion between the women adds this delicious layer of paranoia that made it impossible to put down.
What I loved most is how it balances humor with genuine suspense. It’s fun, but it’s not fluff. As secrets unravel and motives come into question, the story digs deeper into jealousy, insecurity, and the cracks in female friendships. The second half took a turn with some darker elements, but it worked with the pacing and plot already established. It’s dramatic and a little unhinged in the best way and wildly entertaining from start to finish. Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for this early copy that publishes July 14, 2026.
Female rage, a snowed-in cabin, and one spectacularly terrible man all collide in Mallory Arnold's latest offering. Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover they’ve all been dating the same cheating boyfriend, so naturally they do what any reasonable women would do: lure him to a secluded mountain cabin for a little revenge. But things go from “petty payback” to “oh no, he’s actually dead” shockingly fast. Now they’re stranded in the snow, side-eyeing each other, and trying to figure out whether one of them snapped or if something even darker is at play.
This book absolutely leans into its dark comedy in the first half. The female rage is messy and at times, oddly cathartic. There are definite 𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏 𝑻𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝑫𝒊𝒆 vibes at the start, except instead of a glossy teen revenge romp, we get a much bloodier, twistier version. The dialogue is sharp and biting, and the suspicion between the women adds this delicious layer of paranoia that made it impossible to put down.
What I loved most is how it balances humor with genuine suspense. It’s fun, but it’s not fluff. As secrets unravel and motives come into question, the story digs deeper into jealousy, insecurity, and the cracks in female friendships. The second half took a turn with some darker elements, but it worked with the pacing and plot already established. It’s dramatic and a little unhinged in the best way and wildly entertaining from start to finish. Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for this early copy that publishes July 14, 2026.
January 31, 2026
2.5 rounded up for Goodreads and Netgalley.
It was alright. The first half of the book was a little bit better than the second. The second half felt more predictable, cliché and messy. The atmosphere was good though. I did like the friendship of the three female characters, it was quite refreshing. But I didn’t necessarily connect with the characters and some plot points felt like they could have been removed and the book would have been better — if that makes sense.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
It was alright. The first half of the book was a little bit better than the second. The second half felt more predictable, cliché and messy. The atmosphere was good though. I did like the friendship of the three female characters, it was quite refreshing. But I didn’t necessarily connect with the characters and some plot points felt like they could have been removed and the book would have been better — if that makes sense.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had to go back to the chapter begining so many times to check on who's perspective i was reading. Not because I was getting mixed up, but because they printed the wrong name in the body of the text. Seriously, this happened at least four times. That might shake out in editing, but...be honest: Was this AI?
July 13, 2026
Thank you to Poison Pen Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy!
One isolated cabin. One cheating boyfriend. One plan to get even. 🔪🩸
Well that escalated quickly! Seriously, I finished this book so fast! Feminine rage is always fun to read. I love how fast the three FMCs became friends/found family. Unfortunately their relationship only exists because they were all dating the same man… fortunately he gets what’s coming for him.
I was surprised by Thalia’s plot twist but I do wish we had learned a bit more about the cult subplot of this one. I was invested in the creepy history and secrets of the snowy cabins. But the atmosphere was top tier and the characters enjoyable to read.
Definitely dark “John Tucker Must Die” vibes. The last line though!!! Solid 3.5 stars.
One isolated cabin. One cheating boyfriend. One plan to get even. 🔪🩸
Well that escalated quickly! Seriously, I finished this book so fast! Feminine rage is always fun to read. I love how fast the three FMCs became friends/found family. Unfortunately their relationship only exists because they were all dating the same man… fortunately he gets what’s coming for him.
I was surprised by Thalia’s plot twist but I do wish we had learned a bit more about the cult subplot of this one. I was invested in the creepy history and secrets of the snowy cabins. But the atmosphere was top tier and the characters enjoyable to read.
Definitely dark “John Tucker Must Die” vibes. The last line though!!! Solid 3.5 stars.
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