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Just Another Dead Boy
Regan has two rules: Don’t fall in love. Don’t have hope.
In a world where everyone knows the date they will die, wild-child Regan works at a luxury resort as a “Juliet” for the Romeo & Juliet Service, promising to provide the illusion of star-crossed romance to rich boys on end-of-life retreats. She gets to live life on the edge—skydiving, partying, and doing a host of other people’s bucket-list thrills—then moves on to her next client. But when world-famous Death Date researchers the Dalys arrive, she’s tasked with her hardest client yet, their overachieving, stone-faced son. Jude Daly sees right through the setup—he thinks she’s a parasite, and, frankly, she thinks he’s an entitled jerk. They agree to fake romance for the sake of Jude’s parents and Regan’s job, but as contempt turns into something else, will Regan ignore her ironclad rules so she and Jude can take on Fate together? Or will his impending Death Date catch up with them first? A compelling and heartbreaking twist on Romeo and Juliet, in which Regan realizes she might have to stop living like today is her last—and start living like it isn’t.
In a world where everyone knows the date they will die, wild-child Regan works at a luxury resort as a “Juliet” for the Romeo & Juliet Service, promising to provide the illusion of star-crossed romance to rich boys on end-of-life retreats. She gets to live life on the edge—skydiving, partying, and doing a host of other people’s bucket-list thrills—then moves on to her next client. But when world-famous Death Date researchers the Dalys arrive, she’s tasked with her hardest client yet, their overachieving, stone-faced son. Jude Daly sees right through the setup—he thinks she’s a parasite, and, frankly, she thinks he’s an entitled jerk. They agree to fake romance for the sake of Jude’s parents and Regan’s job, but as contempt turns into something else, will Regan ignore her ironclad rules so she and Jude can take on Fate together? Or will his impending Death Date catch up with them first? A compelling and heartbreaking twist on Romeo and Juliet, in which Regan realizes she might have to stop living like today is her last—and start living like it isn’t.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published July 7, 2026
About the author
Kelly McCaughrain
5 books47 followersKelly was born in Belfast in 1977 and grew up in nineteenth-century Avonlea. She doesn’t remember much about her (probably very nice) childhood and suspects this is because she wasn’t paying attention. She was reading Anne of Green Gables.
She started writing when she was six.
She started hiding her writing when she was seven.
She was forced out of the writing closet when she was 35. One of her favourite activities is talking to teenagers about writing because she was too shy to do this when she was young.
She studied at Queens University Belfast, where she did two degrees. For fun. She currently lives with her husband Michael and their ancient VW campervan Gerda.
Her first novel, Flying Tips for Flightless Birds, has been described by insiders as an elaborate and thinly veiled attempt to make her husband love circuses. She refuses to comment.
She started writing when she was six.
She started hiding her writing when she was seven.
She was forced out of the writing closet when she was 35. One of her favourite activities is talking to teenagers about writing because she was too shy to do this when she was young.
She studied at Queens University Belfast, where she did two degrees. For fun. She currently lives with her husband Michael and their ancient VW campervan Gerda.
Her first novel, Flying Tips for Flightless Birds, has been described by insiders as an elaborate and thinly veiled attempt to make her husband love circuses. She refuses to comment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 14, 2026
Just Another Dead Boy by Kelly McCaughrain is one of those books that quietly gets under your skin and stays there long after you finish it. Blending dystopian fiction with romance and emotional young adult drama, this story feels both futuristic and painfully real at the same time. From the very first chapter, I was completely pulled into its world.
The novel is set in a society where everyone knows the exact date they are going to die. For the wealthy, their final days are spent in luxury resorts designed to give them unforgettable experiences before the end. Regan works within one of these resorts as part of the Romeo and Juliet Service, where girls are hired to create the illusion of falling in love with boys nearing their death date. It is such a unique and fascinating concept, but what makes the story truly stand out is the way Kelly McCaughrain explores the emotional consequences behind it.
When Jude enters the story, everything begins to shift. He is thoughtful, intelligent, and far more perceptive than anyone expects him to be. I loved how clever his character was throughout the novel because he constantly challenged both Regan and the world around him. Their connection develops so naturally through sharp conversations, emotional vulnerability, and growing trust, making their relationship feel authentic rather than rushed.
The Romeo and Juliet inspiration woven throughout the story is incredibly well done. Instead of simply retelling the classic tragedy, McCaughrain takes the idea of star-crossed lovers and reimagines it within a dystopian world where fate is unavoidable and time itself becomes the greatest obstacle. It feels fresh, original, and emotionally powerful all at once.
What really stood out to me was how layered the story felt. Beneath the romance and futuristic setting, the novel explores mortality, class divides, fear, hope, and what it truly means to live when time is limited. There were so many moments that felt deeply emotional without ever becoming overwhelming, and the balance between heartbreak, humour, and tenderness was handled beautifully.
Kelly McCaughrain’s writing flows effortlessly, making the world and characters feel vivid and believable from beginning to end. If I am right in thinking this story took around sixteen years to fully come together, that level of care absolutely shows in every part of the novel. The characters feel fully developed, the pacing is strong, and every detail feels intentional.
And while I will not spoil the ending, I will say that the final part of the book was incredibly clever. The way everything comes together leaves such a lasting impact, and it is the kind of ending that makes you immediately want to go back and rethink certain moments throughout the story.
Just Another Dead Boy is emotional, thought-provoking, beautifully written, and impossible to forget. It is a story about love, life, and learning how to hold onto hope even when the world tells you not to.
Thank you NetGalley, walker books , and the author Kelly McCaughrain for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: June 4th 2026
The novel is set in a society where everyone knows the exact date they are going to die. For the wealthy, their final days are spent in luxury resorts designed to give them unforgettable experiences before the end. Regan works within one of these resorts as part of the Romeo and Juliet Service, where girls are hired to create the illusion of falling in love with boys nearing their death date. It is such a unique and fascinating concept, but what makes the story truly stand out is the way Kelly McCaughrain explores the emotional consequences behind it.
When Jude enters the story, everything begins to shift. He is thoughtful, intelligent, and far more perceptive than anyone expects him to be. I loved how clever his character was throughout the novel because he constantly challenged both Regan and the world around him. Their connection develops so naturally through sharp conversations, emotional vulnerability, and growing trust, making their relationship feel authentic rather than rushed.
The Romeo and Juliet inspiration woven throughout the story is incredibly well done. Instead of simply retelling the classic tragedy, McCaughrain takes the idea of star-crossed lovers and reimagines it within a dystopian world where fate is unavoidable and time itself becomes the greatest obstacle. It feels fresh, original, and emotionally powerful all at once.
What really stood out to me was how layered the story felt. Beneath the romance and futuristic setting, the novel explores mortality, class divides, fear, hope, and what it truly means to live when time is limited. There were so many moments that felt deeply emotional without ever becoming overwhelming, and the balance between heartbreak, humour, and tenderness was handled beautifully.
Kelly McCaughrain’s writing flows effortlessly, making the world and characters feel vivid and believable from beginning to end. If I am right in thinking this story took around sixteen years to fully come together, that level of care absolutely shows in every part of the novel. The characters feel fully developed, the pacing is strong, and every detail feels intentional.
And while I will not spoil the ending, I will say that the final part of the book was incredibly clever. The way everything comes together leaves such a lasting impact, and it is the kind of ending that makes you immediately want to go back and rethink certain moments throughout the story.
Just Another Dead Boy is emotional, thought-provoking, beautifully written, and impossible to forget. It is a story about love, life, and learning how to hold onto hope even when the world tells you not to.
Thank you NetGalley, walker books , and the author Kelly McCaughrain for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: June 4th 2026
June 8, 2026
Characters 10/10
Pacing? Exceptional.
Intention and meaning and beauty?
BREAKS THE SCALE.
Felt like this story was crafted so carefully and with such love that I had no choice but to love it too. (wow Leonie it's almost like that's what good writing does)
Pacing? Exceptional.
Intention and meaning and beauty?
BREAKS THE SCALE.
Felt like this story was crafted so carefully and with such love that I had no choice but to love it too. (wow Leonie it's almost like that's what good writing does)
May 10, 2026
“We know how this ends, right?”
In a self-aware Romeo and Juliet retelling, the above words are enough to instil a sense of foreboding in any reader, let alone when they’re uttered so early in the book and revisited once again close to its conclusion. This YA novel is littered with the same levels of foreshadowing and irony that the source material is famed for, not to mention characters and plot lines that are developed in clear homage to the beloved play. However, this version of the bard’s ultimate tragedy is a refreshing take, that plays with the conventions and characters beautifully, giving the reader just enough moments of ‘oh no, I know what’s going to happen’ and still managing to pack a few surprises along the way. (The unexpected turns were particularly enjoyable, as someone who has taught the original play to teenagers for the last decade!)
I absolutely loved the concept of this story: a world where everyone knows, from birth, when they’re going to die, where the wealthy can live out their final days in an all-inclusive resort, that has everything from basket weaving to bungee jumping to keep guests and their loved ones entertained, on top of world-class restaurants and bars and clubs that seem entirely free of rules, allowing the world’s most privileged people access to anything they could possibly want in their final days. Naturally, these places require staffing, and that’s where our protagonist, Regan, comes in. She works as a ‘Juliet’: a teenager employed to give wealthy, soon-to-be-dead boys as realistic a love story as possible in their final days. For the duration of the novel, we see her plight against poverty and circumstance warring against her uncertain feelings about her assignment for the week: billionaire prodigy, Jude.
There were moments of this book that reminded me of the similarly tragic ‘Me Before You’, as characters started to question the choices they were making around the ending of lives and as I felt myself rooting for a seemingly impossible ending where everyone lived happily ever after. The writing was extremely well done, with some overt references to Romeo and Juliet (the R&J program, and the section titles) alongside some much more subtle references to lines delivered by characters in Shakespeare’s original dialogue, tweaked to feel thoroughly modern and appropriate, reminding fans of the play of where the novel was going to end up, but without drawing too much attention to the meta-narrative, ensuring the references came off as natural and not like the author saying ‘look how clever I am’. She would be entirely within her rights to say this, by the way. I firmly believe this one will soon become beloved by teen readers, in the way millennial teens will remember John Green’s heart-stomping, tear-jerking novels being!
An easy 5⭐️ rating for me, and one that I would wholeheartedly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Walker Books for having me as an ARC reader!
In a self-aware Romeo and Juliet retelling, the above words are enough to instil a sense of foreboding in any reader, let alone when they’re uttered so early in the book and revisited once again close to its conclusion. This YA novel is littered with the same levels of foreshadowing and irony that the source material is famed for, not to mention characters and plot lines that are developed in clear homage to the beloved play. However, this version of the bard’s ultimate tragedy is a refreshing take, that plays with the conventions and characters beautifully, giving the reader just enough moments of ‘oh no, I know what’s going to happen’ and still managing to pack a few surprises along the way. (The unexpected turns were particularly enjoyable, as someone who has taught the original play to teenagers for the last decade!)
I absolutely loved the concept of this story: a world where everyone knows, from birth, when they’re going to die, where the wealthy can live out their final days in an all-inclusive resort, that has everything from basket weaving to bungee jumping to keep guests and their loved ones entertained, on top of world-class restaurants and bars and clubs that seem entirely free of rules, allowing the world’s most privileged people access to anything they could possibly want in their final days. Naturally, these places require staffing, and that’s where our protagonist, Regan, comes in. She works as a ‘Juliet’: a teenager employed to give wealthy, soon-to-be-dead boys as realistic a love story as possible in their final days. For the duration of the novel, we see her plight against poverty and circumstance warring against her uncertain feelings about her assignment for the week: billionaire prodigy, Jude.
There were moments of this book that reminded me of the similarly tragic ‘Me Before You’, as characters started to question the choices they were making around the ending of lives and as I felt myself rooting for a seemingly impossible ending where everyone lived happily ever after. The writing was extremely well done, with some overt references to Romeo and Juliet (the R&J program, and the section titles) alongside some much more subtle references to lines delivered by characters in Shakespeare’s original dialogue, tweaked to feel thoroughly modern and appropriate, reminding fans of the play of where the novel was going to end up, but without drawing too much attention to the meta-narrative, ensuring the references came off as natural and not like the author saying ‘look how clever I am’. She would be entirely within her rights to say this, by the way. I firmly believe this one will soon become beloved by teen readers, in the way millennial teens will remember John Green’s heart-stomping, tear-jerking novels being!
An easy 5⭐️ rating for me, and one that I would wholeheartedly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Walker Books for having me as an ARC reader!
July 4, 2026
Beautiful and heartbreaking all rolled into one, Kelly McCaughrain has done it again
July 1, 2026
this book is simultaneously a 1 star & a 5 star read & i am conflicted
Read
July 12, 2026Jude reads disingenuously as British despite McCaughrain's upbringing in Belfast? Otherwise, affective—I have refrained from rating as to not skew the mean.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!
Regan Blythe works as a "Juliet". In her world, everyone is born with the date of their death etched on their skin. That's the date they'll die and nothing can change it. She provides a "Romeo and Juliet" experience for dying young men. Their parents hire her to pretend to fall in love with their child, giving them a last hurrah of love and happiness before their life ends. Regan floats through her jobs, doing them brilliantly, not letting the constant loss get to her. At least not on the surface. But then, Jude Daly shows up, and everything changes.
I'm writing this immediately upon finishing, so I'm still in a total state. What a beautiful book. What a beautiful, beautiful book. That absolutely tore my heart out. Not to say more, I don't want to spoil, but GOD.
The strongest aspects of Just Another Dead Boy:
The characters. All the characters felt real and fleshed out and engaging. I fell completely in love with Regan and Jude. They balance each other perfectly and their romance worked wonderfully. It swept me away. Micah was loveable and heart-breaking as Regan's BFF. Even the tertiary characters like Naomi and the Daly's were beautifully realised.
The story: It's been a while since I've had such a strong "I need to get back and keep reading" feeling. I zoomed through the book in three days, but each morning I'd wake up and open it first thing. The twists and turns kept me hooked and the story played out in both surprising ways and the only way it could. I was gripped, I was held hostage.
The thematic elements were woven perfectly into the story. It made me want to grab life with both hands, it made me think about all I have to appreciate right now. It's deep stuff for the intended age group, but presented with care and respect for the readers' intelligence.
I loved this book and I'm going to remember it, and I'm going to plunder everything else Kelly McCaughrain writes.
Regan Blythe works as a "Juliet". In her world, everyone is born with the date of their death etched on their skin. That's the date they'll die and nothing can change it. She provides a "Romeo and Juliet" experience for dying young men. Their parents hire her to pretend to fall in love with their child, giving them a last hurrah of love and happiness before their life ends. Regan floats through her jobs, doing them brilliantly, not letting the constant loss get to her. At least not on the surface. But then, Jude Daly shows up, and everything changes.
I'm writing this immediately upon finishing, so I'm still in a total state. What a beautiful book. What a beautiful, beautiful book. That absolutely tore my heart out. Not to say more, I don't want to spoil, but GOD.
The strongest aspects of Just Another Dead Boy:
The characters. All the characters felt real and fleshed out and engaging. I fell completely in love with Regan and Jude. They balance each other perfectly and their romance worked wonderfully. It swept me away. Micah was loveable and heart-breaking as Regan's BFF. Even the tertiary characters like Naomi and the Daly's were beautifully realised.
The story: It's been a while since I've had such a strong "I need to get back and keep reading" feeling. I zoomed through the book in three days, but each morning I'd wake up and open it first thing. The twists and turns kept me hooked and the story played out in both surprising ways and the only way it could. I was gripped, I was held hostage.
The thematic elements were woven perfectly into the story. It made me want to grab life with both hands, it made me think about all I have to appreciate right now. It's deep stuff for the intended age group, but presented with care and respect for the readers' intelligence.
I loved this book and I'm going to remember it, and I'm going to plunder everything else Kelly McCaughrain writes.
July 2, 2026
Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing me with an early copy of this book via Netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.
McCaughrain presents us with a world in which every child is born with their death date permanently inked on their skin. Although it is still possible to die at any time, no one has ever lived beyond the date that they are born with. Regan works at a high-end resort with a Romeo and Juliet program, a service designed to provide young people doomed to an early death with the illusion of falling in love. As a Juliet, Regan has pretended to be interested in many rich boys and has seen them all lose their lives to their scheduled dates. However, when she is assigned to Jude Daly, he immediately figures out the ruse. As a child of two prominent Death Date researchers, Jude has spent his life battling with the idea that he will die young and attempting to fit a full life of accomplishments into just eighteen years. Regan, on the other hand, has the promise of a much longer life but chooses to live on the wild side as though she has no time left at all. Although neither Jude nor Regan particularly like each other, they choose to live out a fake romance to appease Jude's parents and to keep Regan employed. They spend a significant amount of time together, with Jude teaching Regan how to pull back a bit and Regan attempting to pry Jude out of his responsible shell. This modern twist on Romeo and Juliet explores the wonder of life and the true meaning of living each day like it is your last. It is a roller coaster ride of heartbreak and hope that will have readers glued to the page to find out how it ends. Put this in the hands of readers who enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars and They Both Die at the End. Includes profanity, substance abuse, violence, and a closed-door intimate scene.
McCaughrain presents us with a world in which every child is born with their death date permanently inked on their skin. Although it is still possible to die at any time, no one has ever lived beyond the date that they are born with. Regan works at a high-end resort with a Romeo and Juliet program, a service designed to provide young people doomed to an early death with the illusion of falling in love. As a Juliet, Regan has pretended to be interested in many rich boys and has seen them all lose their lives to their scheduled dates. However, when she is assigned to Jude Daly, he immediately figures out the ruse. As a child of two prominent Death Date researchers, Jude has spent his life battling with the idea that he will die young and attempting to fit a full life of accomplishments into just eighteen years. Regan, on the other hand, has the promise of a much longer life but chooses to live on the wild side as though she has no time left at all. Although neither Jude nor Regan particularly like each other, they choose to live out a fake romance to appease Jude's parents and to keep Regan employed. They spend a significant amount of time together, with Jude teaching Regan how to pull back a bit and Regan attempting to pry Jude out of his responsible shell. This modern twist on Romeo and Juliet explores the wonder of life and the true meaning of living each day like it is your last. It is a roller coaster ride of heartbreak and hope that will have readers glued to the page to find out how it ends. Put this in the hands of readers who enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars and They Both Die at the End. Includes profanity, substance abuse, violence, and a closed-door intimate scene.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a gorgeous book.
Just Another Dead Boy follows teenager Regan Blythe, who works in a world with “death dates” as a “Juliet” for the Romeo and Juliet service at a resort, which provides clients with a bought illusion of ill fated romance on end-of life-retreats. Regan is then faced with her toughest client yet: the son (Jude) of famous death date researchers, the Dalys, whose death date is fast approaching. Jude becomes aware of Regan having been contracted by his parents, and they agree to a fake romance for the sake of her job and in a bid to keep everyone happy.
I absolutely loved the concept surrounding dates of death etched onto people’s skin, them knowing when they were going to die from birth, and the wealthy being able to live out their final days in luxury. This reality, as well as discourse around attempts people had made to get past their death date/cheat the system, made for such a thought provoking narrative with a modern spin. Kelly's writing was engaging, as was the narration, and both pulled me in from start to finish; I didn’t expect it to pack such an emotional punch. The pacing was also great. It felt like we spent so much time with these characters, despite it only having been a few days, and I felt fully invested in Jude’s journey, despite his initially prickly exterior.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Kelly McCaughrain and NetGalley for an ALC to review. All opinions are my own.
Just Another Dead Boy follows teenager Regan Blythe, who works in a world with “death dates” as a “Juliet” for the Romeo and Juliet service at a resort, which provides clients with a bought illusion of ill fated romance on end-of life-retreats. Regan is then faced with her toughest client yet: the son (Jude) of famous death date researchers, the Dalys, whose death date is fast approaching. Jude becomes aware of Regan having been contracted by his parents, and they agree to a fake romance for the sake of her job and in a bid to keep everyone happy.
I absolutely loved the concept surrounding dates of death etched onto people’s skin, them knowing when they were going to die from birth, and the wealthy being able to live out their final days in luxury. This reality, as well as discourse around attempts people had made to get past their death date/cheat the system, made for such a thought provoking narrative with a modern spin. Kelly's writing was engaging, as was the narration, and both pulled me in from start to finish; I didn’t expect it to pack such an emotional punch. The pacing was also great. It felt like we spent so much time with these characters, despite it only having been a few days, and I felt fully invested in Jude’s journey, despite his initially prickly exterior.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Kelly McCaughrain and NetGalley for an ALC to review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What would you if you knew the day you were going to die?
In this world everyone has a tattoo which tells them the date they are going to die. Teenager Regan works at a resort which offers end of life related packages including one called Romeo and Juliet. This is where Regan has a week to make the boy she's contracted to fall in love and make them feel special, ticking off backlist items for them. Except when she's contracted to the world's famous client the Dalys, their son (Jude) finds out the truth about the contract. So they agree to a fake romance.
This was such a hectic ride about love and death. Which also had me ugly crying at points. While Jude comes off prickly and stuck up, he's really just a kid who's afraid of dying and wishes he had more time. I really liked his character development.
Regan comes off selfish and only wants to do it for money, as she's hoping to get a permanent contract at this resort. While she's living with her mother who abuses substances, she seems to push everything down and put others before herself.
But I really enjoyed the plot and thought that it was well done. While this story does highlight loss, grief and death it also shines a light on hope and the empowerment that love gives in regards to feeling on top of the world with a good support system.
In this world everyone has a tattoo which tells them the date they are going to die. Teenager Regan works at a resort which offers end of life related packages including one called Romeo and Juliet. This is where Regan has a week to make the boy she's contracted to fall in love and make them feel special, ticking off backlist items for them. Except when she's contracted to the world's famous client the Dalys, their son (Jude) finds out the truth about the contract. So they agree to a fake romance.
This was such a hectic ride about love and death. Which also had me ugly crying at points. While Jude comes off prickly and stuck up, he's really just a kid who's afraid of dying and wishes he had more time. I really liked his character development.
Regan comes off selfish and only wants to do it for money, as she's hoping to get a permanent contract at this resort. While she's living with her mother who abuses substances, she seems to push everything down and put others before herself.
But I really enjoyed the plot and thought that it was well done. While this story does highlight loss, grief and death it also shines a light on hope and the empowerment that love gives in regards to feeling on top of the world with a good support system.
July 7, 2026
“Just another dead boy” Kelly McCaughrain 💀🏝️
Thank you to Walker Books Publishing for the gifted copy! 🤭🪩
This was such a unique and thought-provoking YA read. The premise immediately reminded me of In Time, with everyone knowing the date they'll die and the way that shapes how they choose to live—or don't.
Summary: In a world where death dates are known, Regan works as a "Juliet" at an exclusive resort, giving guests the experience of a perfect romance before their final days. When she's paired with Jude, who has just seven days left, the line between pretending and reality begins to blur.
Tropes:
• Romeo & Juliet retelling,
• Fake romance,
• Forbidden love,
• Star-crossed lovers,
• Forced proximity,
• Slow burn
This gave me modern Romeo and Juliet vibes with a touch of The White Lotus. It was full of emotional moments, unexpected twists and a beautiful reminder that living a long life isn't the same as truly living.
It was romantic, bittersweet and surprisingly uplifting all at once. I couldn't stop thinking about its message—that a long life doesn't necessarily mean a life well lived. An unforgettable YA romance with a fresh concept, emotional depth and a story that will leave you reflecting on how precious every moment is.
Thank you to Walker Books Publishing for the gifted copy! 🤭🪩
This was such a unique and thought-provoking YA read. The premise immediately reminded me of In Time, with everyone knowing the date they'll die and the way that shapes how they choose to live—or don't.
Summary: In a world where death dates are known, Regan works as a "Juliet" at an exclusive resort, giving guests the experience of a perfect romance before their final days. When she's paired with Jude, who has just seven days left, the line between pretending and reality begins to blur.
Tropes:
• Romeo & Juliet retelling,
• Fake romance,
• Forbidden love,
• Star-crossed lovers,
• Forced proximity,
• Slow burn
This gave me modern Romeo and Juliet vibes with a touch of The White Lotus. It was full of emotional moments, unexpected twists and a beautiful reminder that living a long life isn't the same as truly living.
It was romantic, bittersweet and surprisingly uplifting all at once. I couldn't stop thinking about its message—that a long life doesn't necessarily mean a life well lived. An unforgettable YA romance with a fresh concept, emotional depth and a story that will leave you reflecting on how precious every moment is.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was SO EXCITED to get my hands on an early copy of Just Another Dead Boy by Kelly McCaughrain. Thank you Walker Books for this ARC!
When I say I INHALED this...
The premise alone had me hooked: a world where everyone knows their death date, a Romeo and Juliet service for last-chance romance at a luxury end-of-life resort, and an enemies-to-lovers duo? Yes please! And Kelly absolutely delivered.
Jude is the wealthy teen checking into the luxury resort. With time running out, he’s lived fully and intentionally, but is he really ready? Regan is the local girl hired to play his Juliet. With all the time in the world, why not live wild and free?
Kelly’s writing is seamless: high-concept yet easy to fall into, and layered with so many great tropes and twists that made it impossible to put down. This book had me gasping, giggling, and hoping the whole way through because, just when you think you know how the tale goes, Kelly turns it all on its head.
This story will truly stay with me for a long time. Just Another Dead Boy will hit shelves June 2026, but pre-orders are now open!
When I say I INHALED this...
The premise alone had me hooked: a world where everyone knows their death date, a Romeo and Juliet service for last-chance romance at a luxury end-of-life resort, and an enemies-to-lovers duo? Yes please! And Kelly absolutely delivered.
Jude is the wealthy teen checking into the luxury resort. With time running out, he’s lived fully and intentionally, but is he really ready? Regan is the local girl hired to play his Juliet. With all the time in the world, why not live wild and free?
Kelly’s writing is seamless: high-concept yet easy to fall into, and layered with so many great tropes and twists that made it impossible to put down. This book had me gasping, giggling, and hoping the whole way through because, just when you think you know how the tale goes, Kelly turns it all on its head.
This story will truly stay with me for a long time. Just Another Dead Boy will hit shelves June 2026, but pre-orders are now open!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC! It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to discover authors like this.
I loved the idea of this book, knowing your death date and if you are rich enough, being able to go to resorts that take the pain away before that date comes around.
The fact that it’s YA made me want to read it for my girls, test it out and see if it’s something they’d be interested in.
It is a wonderful story about a rich boy that is brought to such a resort by his very wealthy and yet sensibke parents, and a very poor but brave girl. The week they spend together (I won’t divulge under what circumstances) is filled with things that seem like “wasting time” for someone who’s countdown is 3-4 days. However, that seems to be exactly what was needed and what brings everyone’s walls down.
We get a little bit of french philosophy, some symbolism through Dante’s Inferno and a bit of romance (the innocent, loving kind - nothing explicit).
I really enjoyed it and will definitely get it fot my girls. I think it opens a lot of conversations and that’s exactly what I’m looking for❤️
I loved the idea of this book, knowing your death date and if you are rich enough, being able to go to resorts that take the pain away before that date comes around.
The fact that it’s YA made me want to read it for my girls, test it out and see if it’s something they’d be interested in.
It is a wonderful story about a rich boy that is brought to such a resort by his very wealthy and yet sensibke parents, and a very poor but brave girl. The week they spend together (I won’t divulge under what circumstances) is filled with things that seem like “wasting time” for someone who’s countdown is 3-4 days. However, that seems to be exactly what was needed and what brings everyone’s walls down.
We get a little bit of french philosophy, some symbolism through Dante’s Inferno and a bit of romance (the innocent, loving kind - nothing explicit).
I really enjoyed it and will definitely get it fot my girls. I think it opens a lot of conversations and that’s exactly what I’m looking for❤️
June 14, 2026
Just Another Dead Boy will put you through waves of emotion from chapter to chapter, and by the end, it feels like you experienced a life's worth of them between the pages.
What McCaughrain does well is that the reader can laugh along with Regan and Micah, and you will be smiling loads over Jude, but there's always an underlying sense of loss because you know what ending is coming. The reflections on life and not wasting a minute, or contentedly wasting it all while it lasts, are very thoughtful. Beyond that, the references to Camus throughout (my inner philosopher was geeking out) fit and add a sense of gravity to the playful teenage interactions.
The pacing is beautiful because while the story is set over just a few days, this short amount of time is slowed into many meaningful moments. You get a real sense of the characters savouring every brief instance together.
You know you've read a good romance novel when you fall for the characters as much as they fall for each another. Suffice to say, Kelly McCaughrain's third novel will make you fall in love with many things: the cast, the prose, and a little bit with life itself.
What McCaughrain does well is that the reader can laugh along with Regan and Micah, and you will be smiling loads over Jude, but there's always an underlying sense of loss because you know what ending is coming. The reflections on life and not wasting a minute, or contentedly wasting it all while it lasts, are very thoughtful. Beyond that, the references to Camus throughout (my inner philosopher was geeking out) fit and add a sense of gravity to the playful teenage interactions.
The pacing is beautiful because while the story is set over just a few days, this short amount of time is slowed into many meaningful moments. You get a real sense of the characters savouring every brief instance together.
You know you've read a good romance novel when you fall for the characters as much as they fall for each another. Suffice to say, Kelly McCaughrain's third novel will make you fall in love with many things: the cast, the prose, and a little bit with life itself.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
2.5.
I was kindly given a publisher copy to read which i'm grateful for but I'm torn on this book, I was never hooked in enough to not want to put it down and at times had no urge to pick it back up. It's all extremely surface level and (for me) had an incredibly obvious story line. I felt like I kept reflecting back and thinking how little I knew about the characters (particularly FMC) and their descriptions which I felt made me not connect with them. I think there were just too many "issues" that were resolved incredibly easily but looking at the back its for 14+ years old. Not sure if it's going to be marketed as YA, (or if it's more of a content warning for the topics discussed) but if so then I'd give it 3 stars. If its going to be New Adult and above I'd be giving it 2 stars. I think the jaded attitudes of "you can't do this job forever" didn't seem true and impact full as she was 18 so clearly hadn't been doing it even a year. I think had the characters been slightly older it would have been more believable but then for other characters their plot line wouldn't have worked.
I was kindly given a publisher copy to read which i'm grateful for but I'm torn on this book, I was never hooked in enough to not want to put it down and at times had no urge to pick it back up. It's all extremely surface level and (for me) had an incredibly obvious story line. I felt like I kept reflecting back and thinking how little I knew about the characters (particularly FMC) and their descriptions which I felt made me not connect with them. I think there were just too many "issues" that were resolved incredibly easily but looking at the back its for 14+ years old. Not sure if it's going to be marketed as YA, (or if it's more of a content warning for the topics discussed) but if so then I'd give it 3 stars. If its going to be New Adult and above I'd be giving it 2 stars. I think the jaded attitudes of "you can't do this job forever" didn't seem true and impact full as she was 18 so clearly hadn't been doing it even a year. I think had the characters been slightly older it would have been more believable but then for other characters their plot line wouldn't have worked.
July 9, 2026
📖 Book genre?: Modern Day Romeo and juliet
release date : July 7th ⭐️ New Book alert⭐️
🌟 Overall rating?: 3/5.
💖 Why is it special?: Everyone is born with a death date on their skin. They cannot go past their death date but they can die before if they do something accidentally. (being hit by a bus etc..)
📚A young lady is hired by a resort to date dying boys, to make their final days special.
She meets her "date" unexpectedly when she spills coffee on him. His death date is infact in a few days and she must gain his love and trust back so she can get paid to see this drama through.
🤔 Who would like this?: Romantic girlies 🩷
My stats: Book 486 logged on Goodreads
#netgalley #justanotherdeadboy #romeoandjuliet
#bookreviews #goodreads
release date : July 7th ⭐️ New Book alert⭐️
🌟 Overall rating?: 3/5.
💖 Why is it special?: Everyone is born with a death date on their skin. They cannot go past their death date but they can die before if they do something accidentally. (being hit by a bus etc..)
📚A young lady is hired by a resort to date dying boys, to make their final days special.
She meets her "date" unexpectedly when she spills coffee on him. His death date is infact in a few days and she must gain his love and trust back so she can get paid to see this drama through.
🤔 Who would like this?: Romantic girlies 🩷
My stats: Book 486 logged on Goodreads
#netgalley #justanotherdeadboy #romeoandjuliet
#bookreviews #goodreads
July 12, 2026
Initially I passed on this ARC because of the title. I assumed it was a Halloween book. Oh man I am so glad I went back and gave this more attention. I can’t stop thinking about this book. I can’t stop thinking about the characters. I love that this was a young adult book and has evoked so many emotions and is so thought provoking.
The narrator is listed as Jessica Preddy. Her voice was simply perfect for our young female character. She sounds aloof, yet emotion. She appears to “know everything” like many young adults this age yet comes across as unknowing and scared. Great talent, great narrator.
This was a wonderful book. Uplifting yet shattering. Absolute Chefs Kiss. Thank you NetGalley. This was wonderful and exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
The narrator is listed as Jessica Preddy. Her voice was simply perfect for our young female character. She sounds aloof, yet emotion. She appears to “know everything” like many young adults this age yet comes across as unknowing and scared. Great talent, great narrator.
This was a wonderful book. Uplifting yet shattering. Absolute Chefs Kiss. Thank you NetGalley. This was wonderful and exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
April 28, 2026
Thank you so much to the author and #NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book!
Romeos and Juliet’s are hired to fall in love with rich people at the end of their lives - what could go wrong?
I really enjoyed the entire idea of this book and the execution - Regan is humanly flawed as she navigates a difficult career in order to pay bills, never believing in love until Jude.
Who complicates things in the best way.
This was a sweet and cute book that deals with grief and falling hard and fast. I’ve never read anything like it.
4/5 ⭐️ definitely recommend to anyone who loves a tragic romance.
Romeos and Juliet’s are hired to fall in love with rich people at the end of their lives - what could go wrong?
I really enjoyed the entire idea of this book and the execution - Regan is humanly flawed as she navigates a difficult career in order to pay bills, never believing in love until Jude.
Who complicates things in the best way.
This was a sweet and cute book that deals with grief and falling hard and fast. I’ve never read anything like it.
4/5 ⭐️ definitely recommend to anyone who loves a tragic romance.
July 8, 2026
I really liked this book and was hooked from the very first chapter. A world where everyone knows the date they’ll die was really interesting and different. The storyline between Regan and Jude made it easy to root for them. Though they had a rocky start, I loved watching them change and grow together through Jude’s fear of running out of time and Regan’s avoidance of dealing with her own problems. This story definitely tugs at your heartstrings, but it wasn’t as sad as I’d expected. It’s ultimately about what it means to truly live, even when time feels like it’s running out and is a great reminder or what’s important.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a proof copy from the publisher and I'm very grateful for it as this was my first read of 2026 and it did not disappoint.
In a world where you know the date of your death, Just Another Dead Boy delivers a sharp, funny and heart breaking enemies to lovers tale that will stay with you a long time.
As a school librarian, I'm forever trying to find books that slightly older teens will sink their teeth into and this is the perfect remedy for this. I loved it, very excited to see it out there in the world in the summer!
In a world where you know the date of your death, Just Another Dead Boy delivers a sharp, funny and heart breaking enemies to lovers tale that will stay with you a long time.
As a school librarian, I'm forever trying to find books that slightly older teens will sink their teeth into and this is the perfect remedy for this. I loved it, very excited to see it out there in the world in the summer!
May 20, 2026
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
I feel a bit conflicted with this book. I enjoyed it as it was a really easy read despite what it entailed but felt like it was missing something. When I first started reading I thought this was an adult novel but after finishing I realised it’s YA. I think that may be why it feels like it’s missing something.
The second half (particularly part 3) really gave the book what it needed to become more interesting and exciting.
Overall, it was a good easy read
4⭐️
I feel a bit conflicted with this book. I enjoyed it as it was a really easy read despite what it entailed but felt like it was missing something. When I first started reading I thought this was an adult novel but after finishing I realised it’s YA. I think that may be why it feels like it’s missing something.
The second half (particularly part 3) really gave the book what it needed to become more interesting and exciting.
Overall, it was a good easy read
4⭐️
July 7, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Kelly McCaughrain for the ARC audiobook of Just Another Dead Boy!
Romeo and Juliet retellings can be really hit or miss for me, and more often than not I’d pick one of Shakespeare’s other works to be retold given the choice. But McCaughrain’s concept for Just Another Dead Boy made what could have been “Just another Romeo and Juliet Retelling” feel fresh. It hooked me in a way that I wasn’t expecting and I’m glad the title came across my NetGalley suggestions.
Romeo and Juliet retellings can be really hit or miss for me, and more often than not I’d pick one of Shakespeare’s other works to be retold given the choice. But McCaughrain’s concept for Just Another Dead Boy made what could have been “Just another Romeo and Juliet Retelling” feel fresh. It hooked me in a way that I wasn’t expecting and I’m glad the title came across my NetGalley suggestions.
July 8, 2026
SUCH a well written book. It was exciting the whole way through and unpredictable yet not unbelievable. I loved all the twists— the Cinderella twist was like a punch to the gut, I had to lock in so hard at work bc i started tearing up thinking about that reveal and I didn’t want anyone thinking I am just really emotional about shelf stocking.
There is so much attention to detail and to the separate characters arcs of different characters, I love that a lot.
10000000/10 I will absolutely be rereading this!
There is so much attention to detail and to the separate characters arcs of different characters, I love that a lot.
10000000/10 I will absolutely be rereading this!
October 27, 2025
I received an early proof of this book and I loved it. Just Another Dead Boy hit me right in the heart. Kelly McCaughrain has again created characters that feel like friends, friends facing the biggest of challenges. In a world in which the day of your death is known from the moment you are born, how to you live your life?
With Romeo and Juliet at is centre, the book looks not just at the tragedy of someone dying young, but how capitalism and class difference play out when an end of life can be commodified. Food for the head and the heart, this book is about connection, hope and how hard it can be to have hope, when your cast in a role that can’t afford to. With gut punches that had me crying, and a world that I felt I could step into, I can’t recommend this book enough.
With Romeo and Juliet at is centre, the book looks not just at the tragedy of someone dying young, but how capitalism and class difference play out when an end of life can be commodified. Food for the head and the heart, this book is about connection, hope and how hard it can be to have hope, when your cast in a role that can’t afford to. With gut punches that had me crying, and a world that I felt I could step into, I can’t recommend this book enough.
November 5, 2025
The absurdity of life. Albert Camus. Just another dead boy is a beautifully written book about life and hope. I did not expect to love the book as much as I did, but it even brought me to some tears at one point.
With the Romeo and Juliet theme combined with the existence of Death Dates causing people being born with early death dates marked on their skin. The book really makes you start to reflect your own life choices and what meaning you give life, just like Regan and Micah do in the story.
With the Romeo and Juliet theme combined with the existence of Death Dates causing people being born with early death dates marked on their skin. The book really makes you start to reflect your own life choices and what meaning you give life, just like Regan and Micah do in the story.
July 7, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
Regan has an interesting job playing Juliet to young men at their end of life vacation. Everyone is born with a death date and the wealthy will go to a resort for a last hoorah. But Regan’s latest client, Jude Daly, gets under her skin. Interesting premise and great audiobook.
I enjoyed the narration and the book flew by.
4 stars
Regan has an interesting job playing Juliet to young men at their end of life vacation. Everyone is born with a death date and the wealthy will go to a resort for a last hoorah. But Regan’s latest client, Jude Daly, gets under her skin. Interesting premise and great audiobook.
I enjoyed the narration and the book flew by.
July 9, 2026
(Hoopla audio) Really interesting premise, even though the idea of death dates has been done before, I enjoyed the Romeo and Juliette idea. Written in first person from our female protagonists POV. I found myself laughing out loud a few times and entertained all the way through. The characters were all very endearing. The audiobook narrator botched our protagonists name pronunciation along with a few words here and there, but otherwise, no complaints.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a really cute story that gets you thinking what would you do if you knew when your time was. What would you do with that last week? How would you handle a death you know in inevitable?
Really cute love story, read as YA to me, but I do still suggest it if you want something short, simple, but also puts you through your feels.
Really cute love story, read as YA to me, but I do still suggest it if you want something short, simple, but also puts you through your feels.
Review of advance copy
Exceptionally good! The voice was incredible which brought all the characters to life - including the side characters who all felt nuanced and realised. The pace was excellent, and it walked just the right line between speculative and believable. And that ending?! I loved it.
July 6, 2026
She completed her job and made him happy but at what cost. If me before you and they both die at the end had a tragically beautiful baby.
Im mourning these characters like I knew them personally. Wherever, always.
Im mourning these characters like I knew them personally. Wherever, always.
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