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Scary Movie Night: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26In this nail-biting thriller, a horror-themed birthday party turns deadly when guests start disappearing—and the birthday girl realizes that she must face a long-buried secret to make it out alive.
Tippi is ready for a fresh start. After breaking off her engagement to an increasingly demanding, controlling, and emotionally unstable man, she is newly inspired to do whatever it takes to put herself first. Plus, her thirty-fifth birthday is coming up: a perfect occasion to ring in this new era. Tippi’s friends see the opportunity, too, and lean into her love of horror films by throwing her a lavish theme party at a secluded mansion, where everyone dresses as characters from iconic scary movies. But Tippi's attempts to enjoy the night are shattered when she starts receiving terrifying messages from her ex, Oliver, to expose a secret she was ready to take to the grave.
At first, Tippi can’t believe her eyes. Oliver moved across the country after they broke up—he can’t have crashed her party. Could one of her friends have found out? But when her guests begin to disappear one by one, it becomes clear that the threats have very real consequences. And the messages make clear one thing: the call is coming from inside the house.
As Tippi is forced to navigate the deception of those closest to her, she realizes that in the end, some things are indeed like in the movies, and she’ll do whatever it takes to just survive the night.
Tippi is ready for a fresh start. After breaking off her engagement to an increasingly demanding, controlling, and emotionally unstable man, she is newly inspired to do whatever it takes to put herself first. Plus, her thirty-fifth birthday is coming up: a perfect occasion to ring in this new era. Tippi’s friends see the opportunity, too, and lean into her love of horror films by throwing her a lavish theme party at a secluded mansion, where everyone dresses as characters from iconic scary movies. But Tippi's attempts to enjoy the night are shattered when she starts receiving terrifying messages from her ex, Oliver, to expose a secret she was ready to take to the grave.
At first, Tippi can’t believe her eyes. Oliver moved across the country after they broke up—he can’t have crashed her party. Could one of her friends have found out? But when her guests begin to disappear one by one, it becomes clear that the threats have very real consequences. And the messages make clear one thing: the call is coming from inside the house.
As Tippi is forced to navigate the deception of those closest to her, she realizes that in the end, some things are indeed like in the movies, and she’ll do whatever it takes to just survive the night.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 14, 2026
29 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Smith
15 books333 followersMiranda Smith writes domestic and psychological suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Her debut novel, SOME DAYS ARE DARK, will be released in March 2020.
Miranda has been a staff writer at a local newspaper and a secondary English teacher. When it comes to fiction, Miranda writes about complicated women, dark impulses and Southern settings.
She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three children.
Miranda has been a staff writer at a local newspaper and a secondary English teacher. When it comes to fiction, Miranda writes about complicated women, dark impulses and Southern settings.
She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
After calling off her engagement, Tippi is preparing to restart her career producing a travel blog. But before she moves away, she reluctantly agrees to let her three best friends throw her one last birthday bash in the mansion where her grandmother raised her on Hitchcock and horror films. But notes from her ex mysteriously appear, notes he can't possibly have left. And guests she didn't expect show up. As the night goes on, the revels are interrupted by horrific acts, making Tippi question how well she really knows her long time friends.
This was a tense thriller right from the start. All the references to Hitchcock and horror were delightful. The myriad secrets and revelations that came about the longer the story went on could have been overwhelming, yet somehow never felt (too much) out of place. I could have done with one or two fewer twists, but I can't say the story wasn't a fast-paced engrossing read right to the end.
After calling off her engagement, Tippi is preparing to restart her career producing a travel blog. But before she moves away, she reluctantly agrees to let her three best friends throw her one last birthday bash in the mansion where her grandmother raised her on Hitchcock and horror films. But notes from her ex mysteriously appear, notes he can't possibly have left. And guests she didn't expect show up. As the night goes on, the revels are interrupted by horrific acts, making Tippi question how well she really knows her long time friends.
This was a tense thriller right from the start. All the references to Hitchcock and horror were delightful. The myriad secrets and revelations that came about the longer the story went on could have been overwhelming, yet somehow never felt (too much) out of place. I could have done with one or two fewer twists, but I can't say the story wasn't a fast-paced engrossing read right to the end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Murder. Lies. Betrayal. Drama. Hitchcock. What more could you want from a whodunnit story? I was sucked into the life of Tippi and her friends. Learning of their experiences, their plans, and eventually…their secrets. The back and forth between Tippi’s book excerpts, the before the breakup, and after the breakup was a genius move in slowly revealing the puzzle pieces but not quite giving enough for them to click. Tippi is trying to get over her ex, and her friend throws a birthday bash. It's a great distraction, but what makes for an even better distraction are the ominous threats Tippi receives, the murder of a friend, and the secrets that begin to unravel themselves like a cable knit sweater caught on a nail. This was a fantastic read!
Want to read
February 6, 2026ooh this one sounds so fun! Perfect summer read! Pub date: July 2026
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews