Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die

by Mallory Arnold

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. 

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

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 14, 2026

About the author

Mallory 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.

Reviews

[shanayaa]

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.

[Dutchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Rebecca]

thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for access this ARC

[bookmarksandbarbells · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 ✨

[Jenna (on digital detox hiatus!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Krysta ꕤ]

this one is advertised as for fans of John Tucker Must Die .. but with a horror slasher twist? YES TO ALL OF IT 🔪��️

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Erica★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come upon release, but this was a fun little slasher book. Very Until Dawn.

I received a copy of this for review from the publisher through Netgalley.

[Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

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."

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

"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.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well going into this book I definitely didn’t think I was gonna love it as much as I did! This book caught my attention from the beginning and I loved everything about it. It never really slowed down and there was twist after twist in the second half. Definitely did become a little unhinged but it kept my interest for sure. I love a good cult horror book! Thank you net galley and poisoned pen press for the e arc.

[Nianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had me hooked from the beginning. It was fast-paced, bingeable and hard to put down. I really enjoyed following the different perspectives of Cham, Nora and Ruby.

While the story is a little ridiculous at times, it was such a fun and entertaining read. I had a great time reading this and would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher for this digital ARC on NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[mo • lesmotsdemo · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Nicole Alycia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora, Ruby, and Cham are all perfectly content with the lives they’re living until their worlds collide and they discover they’re all dating the same guy. And he just stole money from all of them. Now they’re set on getting their money back and teaching him a lesson in the process.

I absolutely devoured this book! This is my favorite kind of horror/thriller read! You’re immediately drawn into the story and start connecting with the characters and rooting for their revenge. The story is fast paced, action packed, gory, cult-y, campy… so many of the perfect vibes to create an atmospheric read.

If you love a fast paced horror/thriller then I highly recommend this one!
Trigger warnings for gore in this one!

[Art the Bookworm]

A 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.

[Trisha]

the 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.

[Dr CG · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good and thoroughly entertaining!
I went into “Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die” completely blind, without any extra context or expectations, and I’m honestly so glad I did. I think that choice gave me the best reading experience because the story immediately pulled me in and kept me curious.

The book starts with three women, and right away you’re left wondering how these three separate lives could possibly connect. As the story unfolds, you discover they are all connected by the same man they’ve been dating. Not a spoiler, it’s written in the description:) I really enjoyed the fast pace of the story and how new pieces of information came to light as the characters crossed paths. It kept the momentum going and made me want to keep reading.

One of my favorite things about this book was how it constantly made me question where the story was headed. Just when I thought I understood the direction of the plot and started feeling comfortable, it would shift slightly. The twists felt natural and organic instead of like they were added just for shock value, which made the whole experience more enjoyable.

My biggest “dislike” is actually a complicated one because it comes from my reaction to the characters rather than the story itself. I was frustrated by how gullible these women were when it came to this man. I mean… this man was out here juggling multiple relationships and somehow still convinced people to trust him. And then he had the absolute nerve to ask one of his lovers for a kidney?! Grrr. The audacity was almost impressive in the worst way.

This book felt like a fresh perspective on the thriller genre. Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of thrillers that follow similar patterns, so it was refreshing to read something that felt different. It was genuinely a fun reading experience and one that kept me entertained from beginning to end.

Thank you Mallory Arnold, #Netgalley, and #PoisonedPenPress for a chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

[Karolay Capellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cham, Nora, and Ruby discover they are all dating the same man. They decide to work together to get revenge and force him to confess what he’s done. In a secluded cabin, on a snowy mountain, the three women lure him there but things don’t go as planned.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book! I loved the multiple POVs and getting to know each of our main characters. The writing was very engaging and kept me coming back for more. Unfortunately, once the girls arrived to the cabin, things took a bit of a turn. I didn’t find the story from here onward to be as engaging.

I wanted more suspense and excitement but I felt like it fell a bit flat. The things they were doing and their reactions felt a bit unrealistic. There were a few topics in the story that I didn’t care for but that was a personal preference. Overall I would give this author another shot.


I received an ARC of this ebook from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I’m absolutely thrilled to have been invited to read this widget! The cover really caught my eye, and since I tend to skip over blurbs, I dove in blind. What an exhilarating ride it was! If I could, I would recommend going in without any expectations, because what happens in Montana truly stays in Montana!

Three women, Nora, Ruby, and Cham, discover they are dating the same man and plan revenge by inviting him to a remote cabin. Their scheme takes a deadly turn when he is found dead. Stranded by snow, they begin to suspect each other, confronting personal issues and trying to uncover whether one of them is the killer or if an external threat lurks outside.

The story is told from several perspectives—Nora, Ruby, and Cham—allowing us to explore their individual narratives. As their short stories unfold, it becomes clear that there’s a common thread connecting them all. I appreciate how these characters initially seem separate until fate brings them together. You could call it karma or coincidence, but their paths intertwine, and that’s when things start to get really wild.

A word of advice to the ladies: work hard for your money and don't let your boyfriends take advantage! I’ve learned this the hard way in the past. Love can be blind, but it’s wise to keep your finances separate until you’re truly sure about someone.

I loved the suspenseful writing, the isolated cabin setting, and the ominous weather! This has all the elements of a gripping, secluded thriller that keeps you guessing at every turn. Sure, the subplot involving the boyfriend and his new girlfriend might seem a bit over the top, but it’s the kind of unhinged story we all need after a long week! I was blown away by the twists and revelations that tied everything together—it was superbly done! If I had read this during Halloween week, it would have made an even greater impact!

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a classic slasher with an all-female cast, sure to satisfy fans of thrillers and horror alike. Whether you're in it for the bloody revenge, the array of formidable characters, or just because you love that stunning cover, you won't be disappointed. And the ending! I adore open endings because they leave so much to the imagination! This was a wild ride, and I am all for it!

Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press, for the DRC widget. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!!

[Nicole Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book/Story: ⭐⭐⭐.5 (rounded down)
Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Trigger Warning(s): Murder, Gore, Infidelity, Organ Donation. Misogyny, Domestic Abuse, Mental Health, Death Of Sibling (Off Page), Death Of Parent(s) (Off Page), Drug Use, Violence/Gore
POV: Multiple, First Person
Series/Standalone/Duet: Standalone?
First In Series: Yes?
Cliffhanger: Yes/Open Ended
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥.25
Safe or Dark: Dark ️
Expected Release Date:July 14, 2026

Quick Take Review💥:

This female revenge thriller is fast, twisty, and wildly addictive. The pacing keeps the tension high, and the story is so easy to fly through you’ll find yourself plowing through chapters. Making it nearly impossible to stop at just one.


In Depth Review 👇


Summary 📖: 

An isolated cabin. A cheating boyfriend. A carefully crafted plan for revenge. 

Outrage turns into a calculated plan for revenge when Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover they’re all dating the same man. Their idea is simple: lure their cheating boyfriend to a secluded cabin atop a snow-covered mountain under the guise of a romantic getaway. 

But what’s meant to be a little harmless payback takes a deadly turn when he’s found dead inside the cabin. 

Stranded by a brutal snowstorm, the three women are cut off from the outside world, with no idea what really happened. Suspicion quickly takes hold, and they begin to turn on one another. As tensions rise, Nora, Ruby, and Cham are forced to confront their own secrets and fears, all while trying to answer one chilling question: Is the killer among them, or is something else hiding in the frozen wilderness, ready to take them out one by one? 

Writing 📝: 

Mallory Arnold’s writing is super easy to get into but still really engaging. The style is simple and clear, so you never feel lost or overwhelmed, but she still manages to build a ton of tension. It’s the kind of writing that pulls you in right away and keeps you hooked without making you work too hard to keep up. 

Thoughts 💭: 

“People are unpredictable, complicated, stubborn as hell.”

 

Nothing hits quite like a healthy serving of good old-fashioned female revenge, especially in 2026. 

Some men (NOT all men) can be a flaming bag of dog poop, and Jason was absolutely one of them. Watching him finally get his was incredibly satisfying. 

You know what? GOOD FOR THEM! 

Oh, how fun, a little John Tucker Must Die story...nevermind. 

This story features short, punchy chapters, which work wonderfully. Combined with the simple yet engaging writing style, they make the book quick and easy to get through. I often found myself surprised by how much I’d read in a single sitting. I devoured it in chunks. I absolutely loved that. 

I loved how the prologue opened with a police interview. It immediately throws us into the aftermath of whatever happened at the cabin, with the women already at the station. Showing it as a transcript document was entertaining and engaging. It hooked me right away and made me want to keep reading. 

I really liked how Arnold introduces each of the female characters and their relationships with Jason at the beginning of the book. We get three individual glimpses into their lives before their stories ultimately intersect. Although this part of the novel feels somewhat like a romance (it doesn't last long at all, though), since it focuses on building their individual personalities and relationships, it’s still fun and entertaining. 

“There’s something about this mountain air that’s causing my body to revolt.”

 

Ruby, Cham, and Nora each have distinct personalities, and each feels very much like a different person. Arnold did a wonderful job of giving the three of them their own voices and motivations. They each had their own reasons for what they chose to do to Jason; it wasn’t just a simple “he played all three of us, let’s get him” situation. There was more behind it. That was clearly shown through each of their individual points of view. Even if each chapter wasn’t the name of whose point of view it was being told in, I would’ve known who it was.

I liked all three of the women, but Cham was my favorite (even if her full name was a bit stupid). I really enjoyed her personality and getting to see things from her perspective; she was the most interesting of the trio to me. Being inside Nora and Ruby’s heads was engaging too, and I never felt bored with their chapters. Cham just stood out to me despite her sometimes trying too hard to come off as a badass. 

Thalia really got on my last nerve; I didn’t find a single thing about her enjoyable. I thought she was just the worst. 

I’ll be honest, I initially thought the women were dumb as hell. From the start, it was clear Jason was feeding them a whole bunch of crap. He was throwing up so many red flags they were impossible to ignore. As soon as he started talking about his job, family, and money, I had a feeling he was full of it. It felt like the three of them were too gullible and trusted him too easily. I mean let’s be real, the dude wasn’t an amazing liar. 

“People don’t really understand the manpower that goes into juggling three women for as long as I did.”

 

Nora might have been a bit of an idiot because I think at one point she called Jason a “top-notch manipulator," but this guy couldn’t remember his lies or keep his stories straight to save his life. Top-notch where, girly? 

That said, we as readers already know Jason isn’t a good person and that he’s manipulating all three women, which probably makes it easier to see through his lies. 

It starts off as more of a slow-burn plot, which isn’t usually my favorite, but in this case it really works. The gradual buildup creates tension beautifully, making the eventual chaotic breaking point all the more enjoyable. 

Once we arrive at the cabin, the story hits the ground running. The tension rises quickly, and the stakes immediately climb. Arnold sets the atmosphere perfectly; the snowy cabin feels remote, and the sense of isolation is unmistakable. These elements make the sense of danger feel even more intense and ever-present. That vivid setting makes the plot all the more engaging. 

Although it was entertaining and fast-paced, the twists fell flat. They felt cheesy and seemed thrown in just for the sake of having a twist, like, "Here are the obligatory plot twists." I wasn’t surprised or caught off guard. The reveals, and the way they were handled, came across as a cheap cop-out. It felt like this was information that should have been revealed earlier; readers should have been in the know as soon as the character involved was. 

“It was starting to feel like the world’s worst rave.”

 

Honestly, it took a bunch of convenient coincidences and everything lining up just right for any of these things to even work. It was all just too perfect, if you ask me. 

While I somewhat enjoyed the cult aspect of the story, I wish it had been elaborated on a bit more. I would’ve liked to know more about the cult, how it started, why it believed what it did, and stuff like that. To me, it felt as if it was thrown in there just for the sake of adding something into the jumble of the messed-up stuff that was already going on. I’m not sure if it was needed in the story, and things could’ve been taken in a different direction. Like I said though, it was enjoyable enough. 

As the book goes on, it becomes increasingly far-fetched before completely going off the rails. You’d think that would be a bad thing, but it’s not. It’s outrageous in the best possible way, a whirlwind of pure, entertaining chaos. Honestly, we all need a dose of that sometimes, especially given the reality we’re living in today. 

I truly think the author wasn’t sure what direction she wanted her book to take, so by the end, it felt like we had gone in eighty different ones. 

The ending honestly pissed me off. The main plot wrapped up fine, I guess, nothing amazing, but then a cliffhanger is dropped in for the overall story arc. I can’t even tell if it was meant to be open-ended and the readers are supposed to decide what happened or just a straight-up cliffhanger. If it’s the latter, I’m annoyed as hell, because I simply don’t care enough to read a sequel. 

I LOVE slasher movies, so Arnold gets bonus points for the vibes and references. 

“A McDonald’s hamburger doesn’t go through as much change as my life has in nine days.”

Final Verdict ⚖️

[ ] You NEED to read this book! DO IT!

[✅] You won’t regret picking up this book but also won’t regret it if you don’t.

[ ] Don’t make the same mistake that I did. DO NOT read this book!

Just a reminder: reading is totally subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. What speaks to one person might not to another, and that’s okay. There's never a reason to put someone down for loving a book you didn’t vibe with or vice versa. Be kind, the world is already cruel enough. 😊

I would like to thank Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.