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Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die
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Expected 14 Jul 26Win a free print copy of this book!
4 days and 08:27:36
15 copies available
U.S. only
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, Paperback
Expected publication July 14, 2026
63 people are currently reading
17350 people want to read
About the author
Mallory Arnold
3 books241 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 235 reviews
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February 11, 2026thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for access this ARC
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Read
March 22, 2026A novel of revenge that goes off the rails in all the best ways! When three women, Ruby, and Cham discover that they've each been dating the same man, they decide to plan revenge to teach him a lesson and hopefully get the money back that he stole from them. So they set a trap for him up in an abandoned cabin in the woods. And that's when things start going south, and quickly.
Each chapter is told from the POV of one of the three women, and the author manages to give each character enough distinction that it wasn't hard to follow along. As they begin to lay their trap for him, little things keep going wrong, until it gets wildly out of control. At first, I wasn't sure if the cabin was haunted, if one of the three women was a ringer, or if something else was going on. But the pressure builds beautifully, and I raced through the book to get to the conclusion. I thought the very last page of the conclusion felt a bit open ended, and wasn't quite sure what to make of the final sentence. But over all it was exciting and thrilling. Half the time I wasn't sure I could trust any one of the characters. I have not read anything by Mallory Arnold before, but I'm definitely going to read more of her.
A special thanks to the publisher for supplying this book on netgalley for review.
Each chapter is told from the POV of one of the three women, and the author manages to give each character enough distinction that it wasn't hard to follow along. As they begin to lay their trap for him, little things keep going wrong, until it gets wildly out of control. At first, I wasn't sure if the cabin was haunted, if one of the three women was a ringer, or if something else was going on. But the pressure builds beautifully, and I raced through the book to get to the conclusion. I thought the very last page of the conclusion felt a bit open ended, and wasn't quite sure what to make of the final sentence. But over all it was exciting and thrilling. Half the time I wasn't sure I could trust any one of the characters. I have not read anything by Mallory Arnold before, but I'm definitely going to read more of her.
A special thanks to the publisher for supplying this book on netgalley for review.
March 5, 2026
3.5 stars.
First, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book ended up being a bit of a rollercoaster reading experience for me. At the beginning, I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. Some of the dialogue felt sooooo cheesy and unrealistic, which took me out of the story a few times.
But at the same time, once the story really got going, I found myself completely hooked.
What really stood out to me was how engaging the story became once the plot picked up. Around the middle of the book, the tension really started to build and I became fully invested. At that point I was honestly eating this book UP. My eyes were glued to the page and I couldn’t stop reading.
One of the struggles I had early on was connecting with the characters. Some of their decisions felt incredibly naive and unrealistic to me, and there were definitely moments where I kept wondering if these women had any sense of self-preservation at all, but I still found myself invested in seeing how everything would play out.
One thing that didn’t fully work for me was the synopsis. I felt like it gave away a little too much, because fairly early in the book I already had a sense of the direction the story was heading. Without exaggerating, the synopsis gives away around 60% of the book, so that leaves way too little room for real surprise.
Another thing that didn’t quite work for me was the horror aspect. This book is tagged as horror first and thriller second, but I honestly felt like the horror elements were extremely short. I kept waiting for those moments to really hit, and they just never fully did. I wanted so much more from that side of the story.
Toward the end, there are several twists, but unfortunately none of them felt particularly shocking. They weren’t bad, but they didn’t land with the impact I was hoping for. I didn’t necessarily predict them exactly, but the way everything unfolded felt more expected than surprising.
By the time I finished the book, I felt a bit disappointed because I thought this had the potential to be at least a 4-star read based on how invested I became during the middle of the story. Still, for a large portion of the book I was completely engrossed and couldn’t stop reading.
First, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book ended up being a bit of a rollercoaster reading experience for me. At the beginning, I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. Some of the dialogue felt sooooo cheesy and unrealistic, which took me out of the story a few times.
But at the same time, once the story really got going, I found myself completely hooked.
What really stood out to me was how engaging the story became once the plot picked up. Around the middle of the book, the tension really started to build and I became fully invested. At that point I was honestly eating this book UP. My eyes were glued to the page and I couldn’t stop reading.
One of the struggles I had early on was connecting with the characters. Some of their decisions felt incredibly naive and unrealistic to me, and there were definitely moments where I kept wondering if these women had any sense of self-preservation at all, but I still found myself invested in seeing how everything would play out.
One thing that didn’t fully work for me was the synopsis. I felt like it gave away a little too much, because fairly early in the book I already had a sense of the direction the story was heading. Without exaggerating, the synopsis gives away around 60% of the book, so that leaves way too little room for real surprise.
Another thing that didn’t quite work for me was the horror aspect. This book is tagged as horror first and thriller second, but I honestly felt like the horror elements were extremely short. I kept waiting for those moments to really hit, and they just never fully did. I wanted so much more from that side of the story.
Toward the end, there are several twists, but unfortunately none of them felt particularly shocking. They weren’t bad, but they didn’t land with the impact I was hoping for. I didn’t necessarily predict them exactly, but the way everything unfolded felt more expected than surprising.
By the time I finished the book, I felt a bit disappointed because I thought this had the potential to be at least a 4-star read based on how invested I became during the middle of the story. Still, for a large portion of the book I was completely engrossed and couldn’t stop reading.
Read
March 4, 2026Reminiscent of "John Tucker Must Die" and "The Other Woman", we follow Nora, Cham, and Ruby on a wild ride of revenge after finding out they're all dating the same loser, Jason. Banded together with their mutual hatred and broken hearts, the ladies venture to a mountain cabin to craft their own revenge horror movie made especially for him.
Layered with dark humor, female friendship, mounting dread, and buried secrets, The story does take several unexpected turns in the second half. I would go into this expecting a psychological thriller with some horror elements and not a full fledge horror novel, but certainly a fast-paced entertaining time!
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the E-ARC!
Layered with dark humor, female friendship, mounting dread, and buried secrets, The story does take several unexpected turns in the second half. I would go into this expecting a psychological thriller with some horror elements and not a full fledge horror novel, but certainly a fast-paced entertaining time!
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the E-ARC!
Want to read
February 16, 2026the way I am SO excited for this!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
March 16, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die by Mallory Arnold.
This book pulled me in right from the start. After the first chapter, I thought I had the storyline figured out, but the twists and turns kept surprising me and made it hard to put down.
I almost forgot this was a thriller in the beginning. Some readers may not like that it starts out with romance vibes, but I loved it! Mallory did a great job introducing the main characters early on and giving readers a clear sense of their personalities.
While there were a few predictable moments toward the end, it was still an enjoyable read for me overall!!
This book pulled me in right from the start. After the first chapter, I thought I had the storyline figured out, but the twists and turns kept surprising me and made it hard to put down.
I almost forgot this was a thriller in the beginning. Some readers may not like that it starts out with romance vibes, but I loved it! Mallory did a great job introducing the main characters early on and giving readers a clear sense of their personalities.
While there were a few predictable moments toward the end, it was still an enjoyable read for me overall!!
February 15, 2026
Suspend belief with this one. A little bit of Dirty John meets John Tucker Must Die. This story started off strong but quickly derailed and couldn’t decide what direction it wanted to take.
March 8, 2026
ARC: NetGallery and Poisoned Pen Press
Three women Nora, Ruby and Cham band together after discovering Jason their boyfriend is dating all three of them at the same time. They all want their money back and Jason makes a run for it. The women all seek revenge until it goes off the rails and turns full on slasher thriller with cult like vibes. Which suddenly thrown me for a loop with the sudden plot change towards the end.
Three women Nora, Ruby and Cham band together after discovering Jason their boyfriend is dating all three of them at the same time. They all want their money back and Jason makes a run for it. The women all seek revenge until it goes off the rails and turns full on slasher thriller with cult like vibes. Which suddenly thrown me for a loop with the sudden plot change towards the end.
February 14, 2026
This book was a tense, snowy thriller that pulled me in immediately. What starts as revenge quickly spirals into paranoia, secrets, and nonstop suspicion. Dark, twisty, and seriously binge-worthy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
March 8, 2026
4.75 ARC Review - This book is John Tucker Must Die meets slasher meets creepy cult in the mountains with a revenge plot that goes totally wrong.
🏔️ For Fans of:
- slasher horror thriller
- multiple POV
- snowstorm on abandoned mountain
- revenge plot gone wrong
- creepy cabin
- back and forth timelines
- isolation thriller
- lots of drama
- cult vibes
- twists and turns
- Fast paced
✏️ Spoiler-Free Review
There are so many twists and turns in this book that I went from John Tucker Must Die / revenge plot to a full-blown slasher horror book in which I’m racing through the pages to find out what happens next.
There is SO MUCH that happens in this book that it’s almost overwhelming but I honestly loved the chaotic way it all unfolded. There was so much to unpack and loved seeing how each nugget of information plays out throughout the book.
The only thing keeping this book from a 5-star for me was a couple of moments (like the police interviews) that leaned a bit more campy and obvious then just conversational, plus the quick ending.
For following the slasher flick vibes, the pacing and chaotic plot honestly just felt right. It was fun, it was intense, and it kept me guessing!
🖤 Thank you to author Mallory Arnold, Poisoned Penn Press, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: Cross My Heart I Hope You Die by Mallory Arnold
📅 Release Date: July 14, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4.75 out of 5
🏔️ For Fans of:
- slasher horror thriller
- multiple POV
- snowstorm on abandoned mountain
- revenge plot gone wrong
- creepy cabin
- back and forth timelines
- isolation thriller
- lots of drama
- cult vibes
- twists and turns
- Fast paced
✏️ Spoiler-Free Review
There are so many twists and turns in this book that I went from John Tucker Must Die / revenge plot to a full-blown slasher horror book in which I’m racing through the pages to find out what happens next.
There is SO MUCH that happens in this book that it’s almost overwhelming but I honestly loved the chaotic way it all unfolded. There was so much to unpack and loved seeing how each nugget of information plays out throughout the book.
The only thing keeping this book from a 5-star for me was a couple of moments (like the police interviews) that leaned a bit more campy and obvious then just conversational, plus the quick ending.
For following the slasher flick vibes, the pacing and chaotic plot honestly just felt right. It was fun, it was intense, and it kept me guessing!
🖤 Thank you to author Mallory Arnold, Poisoned Penn Press, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: Cross My Heart I Hope You Die by Mallory Arnold
📅 Release Date: July 14, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4.75 out of 5
March 6, 2026
I loved this book!! It felt like the slasher version of John Tucker Must Die! Three women all meet by chance and realize they’re dating the same man. This man has also swindled them out of thousands of dollars so they decide to get revenge.
I will start by saying, I know this is an ARC and there are bound to be a few errors, there were a lot here. A lot of spelling or grammatical errors. There were also times when the author used the wrong name and I had to check and make sure I was reading the right persons perspective. Overall the book was hard to put down because it was so good!! I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
I loved the multiple POVs and the short chapters! The ending left me wanting more and I’m hoping that means there will be a sequel!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
I will start by saying, I know this is an ARC and there are bound to be a few errors, there were a lot here. A lot of spelling or grammatical errors. There were also times when the author used the wrong name and I had to check and make sure I was reading the right persons perspective. Overall the book was hard to put down because it was so good!! I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
I loved the multiple POVs and the short chapters! The ending left me wanting more and I’m hoping that means there will be a sequel!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
February 24, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die by Mallory Arnold completely exceeded my expectations. After really enjoying How to Survive A Horror Story, I went into this anticipating a strong thriller, but this one was on another level. Darker, more intense, and packed with gore.
This story leans heavily into female revenge, heightened emotions, and deeply twisted plotlines that keep the tension building with every chapter. The pacing is sharp and addictive, it’s the kind of book that has you telling yourself ‘just one more chapter’ at 1am. There were unsettling moments that left me feeling genuinely out.
What stood out most to me was the dynamic between the three main characters. Although their stories intertwine, each woman feels completely distinct, with her own personality, motivations, and secrets. They’re written in a way that feels realistic, like versions of people you might actually know, which makes the betrayals and revelations hit even harder.
I also loved how unpredictable the plot was. I truly thought I had it figured out, but the twists proved me wrong. Without giving anything away, the direction the story ultimately takes was both surprising and incredibly satisfying.
Overall, this was a gripping and fast-paced dark thriller that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I would highly recommend it to fans of revenge-driven thrillers.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC 🖤
Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die by Mallory Arnold completely exceeded my expectations. After really enjoying How to Survive A Horror Story, I went into this anticipating a strong thriller, but this one was on another level. Darker, more intense, and packed with gore.
This story leans heavily into female revenge, heightened emotions, and deeply twisted plotlines that keep the tension building with every chapter. The pacing is sharp and addictive, it’s the kind of book that has you telling yourself ‘just one more chapter’ at 1am. There were unsettling moments that left me feeling genuinely out.
What stood out most to me was the dynamic between the three main characters. Although their stories intertwine, each woman feels completely distinct, with her own personality, motivations, and secrets. They’re written in a way that feels realistic, like versions of people you might actually know, which makes the betrayals and revelations hit even harder.
I also loved how unpredictable the plot was. I truly thought I had it figured out, but the twists proved me wrong. Without giving anything away, the direction the story ultimately takes was both surprising and incredibly satisfying.
Overall, this was a gripping and fast-paced dark thriller that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I would highly recommend it to fans of revenge-driven thrillers.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC 🖤
February 28, 2026
I went into this completely blind and I’m so glad I did, as it took me on such a rollercoaster.
3 women find out they’re all dating the same guy. What do they do? Plan to get revenge, not in the way you think, but just to scare him by luring him up to a secluded cabin in the mountains. That’s until things take a turn for the worst.
I really enjoyed this. It started off slow at the start but I feel like it needed to, as it builds up the tension and makes you on edge the whole time, as you’re wanting to know what’s going to happen next. It reminded me a bit of the movie ‘the other woman’ but make it darker and twisted.
I loved the cult element to this too. I love cult horror and thriller so this really hits that spot. I do wish we got a bit more of the cult though and I feel like this would’ve made a great extreme horror book, especially because some of the scenes made me go ‘woahh’ so I do think this could’ve possibly been expanded on. But overall it was really enjoyable, despite being a little predictable at times.
Thank you NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the early ARC!
3 women find out they’re all dating the same guy. What do they do? Plan to get revenge, not in the way you think, but just to scare him by luring him up to a secluded cabin in the mountains. That’s until things take a turn for the worst.
I really enjoyed this. It started off slow at the start but I feel like it needed to, as it builds up the tension and makes you on edge the whole time, as you’re wanting to know what’s going to happen next. It reminded me a bit of the movie ‘the other woman’ but make it darker and twisted.
I loved the cult element to this too. I love cult horror and thriller so this really hits that spot. I do wish we got a bit more of the cult though and I feel like this would’ve made a great extreme horror book, especially because some of the scenes made me go ‘woahh’ so I do think this could’ve possibly been expanded on. But overall it was really enjoyable, despite being a little predictable at times.
Thank you NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the early ARC!
March 15, 2026
NetGalley allowed me to get a taste for Mallory Arnold’s “Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die.” My short and pithy review is that I had …dare I say it…fun reading this novel although I wanted to dislike it. Why in the world would an old male curmudgeon like me enjoy a book about a bunch of women stuck in their own horror/ slasher story with a bunch of “chick lit” elements? I’m puzzled. But the story moves along at a great pace and I kept waiting for surprises along the way and sure enough when I believed the narrative was going to zig instead it went zag! And we also received a surprise ending which I didn’t see coming. (That’s why it came as a surprise.). So don’t begin chapter 1 expecting a William Faulkner Great Book but just melt some butter and pour it on your popcorn.
4 Stars for “Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die.”
4 Stars for “Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was high energy and thrilling yet comforting in the best way! I interpreted it as a tongue in cheek amalgamation of the rom-com meets horror/slasher genres.
The beginning leaned into the funny and drama filled makings your comfort girls' night movie. I loved the multiple POVs and how each character was developed to connect with different readers. I especially loved Ruby. Jason, on the other hand, is a gross wet mouldy rag and I'd kill him myself.
The second half of the story felt like a campy 80s horror flick. Some of the plot twists seem sensational, but I believe this was the intention since slasher films were consistently referenced throughout. I thought this made the ending so much fun! I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I'll definitely seek out the author's other works.
A very big thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Mallory Arnold and Netgalley for the opportunity!
The beginning leaned into the funny and drama filled makings your comfort girls' night movie. I loved the multiple POVs and how each character was developed to connect with different readers. I especially loved Ruby. Jason, on the other hand, is a gross wet mouldy rag and I'd kill him myself.
The second half of the story felt like a campy 80s horror flick. Some of the plot twists seem sensational, but I believe this was the intention since slasher films were consistently referenced throughout. I thought this made the ending so much fun! I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I'll definitely seek out the author's other works.
A very big thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Mallory Arnold and Netgalley for the opportunity!
February 23, 2026
4.5⭐️
ARC REVIEW
I absolutely loved this book, wow what a good read! 10/10 stars for Cham because she was 🤌🏻 I absolutely loved the character development in this story, all 3 girls’ personality was so strong and well developed, I loved how we got a lil backstory to all 3 girls and it really felt like we understood them as characters and who they are and to do it whilst not being boring at any point in the book, from the first chapter I was hooked!
I loved how the first half of this book is going just as a revenge book for the second half to really change the storyline and was done amazingly, I loved the little snippets from the ‘after’ during the police interviews and thought they added in really well to the story! I honestly would’ve loved a little bit more of a backstory into things that happened previously, I think that would’ve been amazing to read but overall a great book!
ARC REVIEW
I absolutely loved this book, wow what a good read! 10/10 stars for Cham because she was 🤌🏻 I absolutely loved the character development in this story, all 3 girls’ personality was so strong and well developed, I loved how we got a lil backstory to all 3 girls and it really felt like we understood them as characters and who they are and to do it whilst not being boring at any point in the book, from the first chapter I was hooked!
I loved how the first half of this book is going just as a revenge book for the second half to really change the storyline and was done amazingly, I loved the little snippets from the ‘after’ during the police interviews and thought they added in really well to the story! I honestly would’ve loved a little bit more of a backstory into things that happened previously, I think that would’ve been amazing to read but overall a great book!
February 20, 2026
For fans of John Tucker Must Die, this is a much darker, deadlier take on discovering you’re dating the same man.
Nora, Ruby, and Cham find out they’ve all been involved with the same guy, and instead of letting him walk away unscathed, they decide to make him pay. Believing he can disappear and escape the consequences of his cruelty, he has no idea the women have a plan of their own. They lure him to a secluded cabin high on a mountain, intent on confronting him once and for all. But what starts as revenge quickly spirals out of control, and soon they’re fighting for their own lives as the situation turns truly terrifying.
This book was dark, scary, and deliciously entertaining. The action never slowed, the twists were wild, and the tension on that mountain genuinely had my heart racing. I was completely unsettled, in the best way, and couldn’t put it down.
If you enjoy dark psychological thrillers, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Nora, Ruby, and Cham find out they’ve all been involved with the same guy, and instead of letting him walk away unscathed, they decide to make him pay. Believing he can disappear and escape the consequences of his cruelty, he has no idea the women have a plan of their own. They lure him to a secluded cabin high on a mountain, intent on confronting him once and for all. But what starts as revenge quickly spirals out of control, and soon they’re fighting for their own lives as the situation turns truly terrifying.
This book was dark, scary, and deliciously entertaining. The action never slowed, the twists were wild, and the tension on that mountain genuinely had my heart racing. I was completely unsettled, in the best way, and couldn’t put it down.
If you enjoy dark psychological thrillers, this one is definitely worth picking up.
February 21, 2026
Thank you Poisoned Press, received this as an ARC
Publication Date July 14, 2026 (preorder yours today!)
If you are a fan of the movie John Tucker Must Die and mystery, thrillers this is the book for you.
When Nora, Ruby and Cham come to the realization that they are all dating the same guy and that he has taken advantage of them in all types of ways, they decide to band together and get even.
Setting him up on a fake date they lore him to a secluded cabin in the mountains but they get more than they bargain for. One of the girls is keeping a secret and it seems that it has come back to haunted her and her new friends.
Can they get Jason to admit he has stolen from them and get what they are owed back or will the night take a turn and not all of them will make it off the mountain alive!
Publication Date July 14, 2026 (preorder yours today!)
If you are a fan of the movie John Tucker Must Die and mystery, thrillers this is the book for you.
When Nora, Ruby and Cham come to the realization that they are all dating the same guy and that he has taken advantage of them in all types of ways, they decide to band together and get even.
Setting him up on a fake date they lore him to a secluded cabin in the mountains but they get more than they bargain for. One of the girls is keeping a secret and it seems that it has come back to haunted her and her new friends.
Can they get Jason to admit he has stolen from them and get what they are owed back or will the night take a turn and not all of them will make it off the mountain alive!
February 19, 2026
Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die was an absolute adrenaline rush from page one.
Three women discover they’re dating the same manipulative nightmare of a man… and decide revenge is on the menu. But what starts as a confession trap spirals into paranoia, secrets, cult whispers, and a snowbound nightmare where no one can be trusted 👀
✔ Short, bingeable chapters
✔ Multiple POVs
✔ Claustrophobic winter setting
✔ Twists that kept punching me in the face
I loved that the women didn’t turn on each other — instead we get messy, furious female solidarity and a survival story that goes completely off the rails in the best way.
After loving How to Survive a Horror Story, I knew Mallory Arnold would deliver again… but this? Even better. Dark, twisty, addictive, and seriously fun.
If you like revenge thrillers that mutate into full-blown horror chaos, add this to your TBR immediately 🩸🏔️
Highly recommend!
Three women discover they’re dating the same manipulative nightmare of a man… and decide revenge is on the menu. But what starts as a confession trap spirals into paranoia, secrets, cult whispers, and a snowbound nightmare where no one can be trusted 👀
✔ Short, bingeable chapters
✔ Multiple POVs
✔ Claustrophobic winter setting
✔ Twists that kept punching me in the face
I loved that the women didn’t turn on each other — instead we get messy, furious female solidarity and a survival story that goes completely off the rails in the best way.
After loving How to Survive a Horror Story, I knew Mallory Arnold would deliver again… but this? Even better. Dark, twisty, addictive, and seriously fun.
If you like revenge thrillers that mutate into full-blown horror chaos, add this to your TBR immediately 🩸🏔️
Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ruby, Nora and Cham discover that they have been dating the same man, and they have all been scammed out of money by him. A plan forms to take their revenge and get their money back. Middle of winter and isolated on top of a mountain, their plan goes awry as they discover they aren't the only ones on that mountain.
This thriller was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat, guessing who did it until the very end. I love the female empowerment, after being taken advantage of they women banned together for revenge. I felt the beginning of the book was a little slow, but once it picked up it didn't let me go. A fun female revenge story with multiple POV.
This thriller was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat, guessing who did it until the very end. I love the female empowerment, after being taken advantage of they women banned together for revenge. I felt the beginning of the book was a little slow, but once it picked up it didn't let me go. A fun female revenge story with multiple POV.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an e -arc in exchange for an honest review!
this was so much fun! definitely reminiscent of john Tucker must die reimagined more of a slasher!
Really enjoyed all 3 female main characters, and watching their friendship develop, while starting out only happening because of shared circumstances, by the end they've created a heartwarming bond. Back to the revenge aspect, it was done really well and I was constantly thinking "you know what, good for them".
The multiple POVs we get as well as relatively short chapters made this a fast paced book that I easily binged in one day!
this was so much fun! definitely reminiscent of john Tucker must die reimagined more of a slasher!
Really enjoyed all 3 female main characters, and watching their friendship develop, while starting out only happening because of shared circumstances, by the end they've created a heartwarming bond. Back to the revenge aspect, it was done really well and I was constantly thinking "you know what, good for them".
The multiple POVs we get as well as relatively short chapters made this a fast paced book that I easily binged in one day!
Read
March 20, 2026Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Mallory Arnold for this advanced reader copy of Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die!
I was a huge fan of Mallory’s debut novel, so I was really excited to see another story from her. I loved the description and the cover of the book and was immediately pulled in.
This story follows three kick ass fmc’s Nora, Ruby, and Cham (short for champagne) who seek revenge on their ex boyfriend who they find out to have scammed them all and dated them all at the same time. They lure him up to a cabin in the mountains to get him to admit to it, but then find out they’re in for much more than they bargained for. From start to finish I had no idea what was going on. There is this older movie about a group of kids who go up a ski mountain and trick the employees, and they don’t really know about them and they get trapped on the ski lift, left to succumb to the elements. I can’t remember what it’s called, but this book totally gives that with a creepy cult aspect…
It’s spooky, dark, and GORY! There were moments where I gasped out loud. This book is a good read for anyone who is a read-a-book-in-one-sitting or a Freida fan… Arnold’s pacing is great and leaves you hungry for more!
I was a huge fan of Mallory’s debut novel, so I was really excited to see another story from her. I loved the description and the cover of the book and was immediately pulled in.
This story follows three kick ass fmc’s Nora, Ruby, and Cham (short for champagne) who seek revenge on their ex boyfriend who they find out to have scammed them all and dated them all at the same time. They lure him up to a cabin in the mountains to get him to admit to it, but then find out they’re in for much more than they bargained for. From start to finish I had no idea what was going on. There is this older movie about a group of kids who go up a ski mountain and trick the employees, and they don’t really know about them and they get trapped on the ski lift, left to succumb to the elements. I can’t remember what it’s called, but this book totally gives that with a creepy cult aspect…
It’s spooky, dark, and GORY! There were moments where I gasped out loud. This book is a good read for anyone who is a read-a-book-in-one-sitting or a Freida fan… Arnold’s pacing is great and leaves you hungry for more!
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