What do you think?
The Worst Is Yet to Come
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26From the author of The One That Got Away with Murder comes a fresh YA mystery about a girl who survives a murder attempt and the boy who finds her bleeding on the side of the road as they team up to find out who is targeting teen girls in their small, Rust Belt community. Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus.
High school might be officially over, but the real nightmare is just beginning. When two best friends are attacked on graduation night, only one of them makes it out alive.
Left for dead at an abandoned house but determined to find out who killed her best friend, Rose is rescued by former high school quarterback and heartthrob, Jake, who becomes an unexpected ally. . . and maybe something more. But when she learns that fifteen years ago, another girl suffered the exact same fate in the exact same place, she wonders if a murderer might be back with a vengeance. . . or is a copycat killer on the loose?
Time is running out, because whoever the killer is, they’re eager to correct their biggest letting Rose live. As Rose follows the trail of evidence, she’s led down a path of horrors that threatens to expose the insidious secrets at the heart of her community—secrets the killer will do anything to keep quiet.
High school might be officially over, but the real nightmare is just beginning. When two best friends are attacked on graduation night, only one of them makes it out alive.
Left for dead at an abandoned house but determined to find out who killed her best friend, Rose is rescued by former high school quarterback and heartthrob, Jake, who becomes an unexpected ally. . . and maybe something more. But when she learns that fifteen years ago, another girl suffered the exact same fate in the exact same place, she wonders if a murderer might be back with a vengeance. . . or is a copycat killer on the loose?
Time is running out, because whoever the killer is, they’re eager to correct their biggest letting Rose live. As Rose follows the trail of evidence, she’s led down a path of horrors that threatens to expose the insidious secrets at the heart of her community—secrets the killer will do anything to keep quiet.
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Trish Lundy
2 books397 followersTrish Lundy is the author of THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY WITH MURDER (now in development for television at Hulu) and THE WORST IS YET TO COME (out 10/06/26.) She is represented by Kristin van Ogtrop and Stephen Barbara of Inkwell Management.
You can find Trish on Instagram as @TrishLundy and on TikTok as @TrishLundy17.
You can find Trish on Instagram as @TrishLundy and on TikTok as @TrishLundy17.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 1, 2026
Huge thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. OMG, this was SO GOOD. Single sitting read, I did not want to put this down until I got to the bottom of what was going on!
I thought I was getting into a YA thriller, and this one is so much more. This is the first book that I’ve read by Trish Lundy. She did an amazing job capturing teens doing teenager stuff. Everything that happened felt believable from a freshly graduated teenager perspective. The way this story rolled out in a dual timeline, had me absolutely HOOKED on what was going to happen next.
Rose wakes up with a head wound and gashes on her leg after leaving a party. Saved from an unknown attacker in a hoodie, she has to trust a stranger to get her to safety and help her unravel how her best friend ended up dead in the same place where she survived.
That location already had a loaded past, 17 years ago another teen girl went missing, never to be found. At first, it seems like two unrelated stories, the only thing linking them is the abandoned subdivision where all three girls were spotted.
The story starts to interweave, and you see the breadcrumbs as we work our way through the two main characters. Then… then, holy moly, you get the pants knocked off of you. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, and it was so much more intricate that I’d imagined.
Well freakin done. I loved this with all my heart.
5 stars for this one, keeping me guessing until the VERY end!
Grab The Worst is Yet to Come when it hits shelves October 6! It’s one you will not want to put down!
I thought I was getting into a YA thriller, and this one is so much more. This is the first book that I’ve read by Trish Lundy. She did an amazing job capturing teens doing teenager stuff. Everything that happened felt believable from a freshly graduated teenager perspective. The way this story rolled out in a dual timeline, had me absolutely HOOKED on what was going to happen next.
Rose wakes up with a head wound and gashes on her leg after leaving a party. Saved from an unknown attacker in a hoodie, she has to trust a stranger to get her to safety and help her unravel how her best friend ended up dead in the same place where she survived.
That location already had a loaded past, 17 years ago another teen girl went missing, never to be found. At first, it seems like two unrelated stories, the only thing linking them is the abandoned subdivision where all three girls were spotted.
The story starts to interweave, and you see the breadcrumbs as we work our way through the two main characters. Then… then, holy moly, you get the pants knocked off of you. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, and it was so much more intricate that I’d imagined.
Well freakin done. I loved this with all my heart.
5 stars for this one, keeping me guessing until the VERY end!
Grab The Worst is Yet to Come when it hits shelves October 6! It’s one you will not want to put down!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Worst is Yet to Come is okay. Just okay for me. Trish Lindy’s latest offering is a YA, dual POV, dual timeline thriller, centered around Rose in the current timeline and Brian in the past.
In Brian’s timeline his ex, Abigail, has disappeared and what’s left behind doesn’t bode well for her survival. In the current timeline Rose flees a graduation party when she encounters her best friend Kennedy hooking up with her ex boyfriend.
Later Rose is attacked and Kennedy is found barely alive before being declared dead at local healthcare giant Beryl, where many members of the community work, including parents of both Rose and Kennedy.
Rose becomes determined to find out who attacked her and killed Kennedy, and once she finds out about Abigail, she’s convinced there’s a connection between the young women. She’s helped along the way by Jake, the star quarterback of their high school football team and about as far removed socially from goth Rose as can be imagined.
The explanation for this pairing is that he noticed her at the party and was the one who found her after she escaped, compelling him to help her. This feels like a bit of a stretch, but there’s so many other things in the book that aren’t explained all that well or that seem a major part of the story without context that this isn’t worth belaboring.
Because the earlier timeline is told from Brian’s POV, we know he didn’t kill Abigail. But I’m not sure what else this storyline contributes to the book because it’s seems like it’s mainly him panicking.
Naturally Rose suspects him in the later timeline, but he doesn’t really have any connection to Kennedy. In fact, for as much time as Rose and Jake spend investigating, they don’t seem to be anywhere close to putting the pieces together until very late into the book, after someone almost knocks them over the head with the direction they should be looking. Which begged the question for me about why that person wasn’t pursuing it themselves.
It felt like there was a lot of running around not accomplishing anything. The romance developing between Rose and Jake felt like it was crammed into a different genre of book instead of evolving more naturally. There’s the situation with Rose’s mom that isn’t explained until it kind of is, but it feels like the book should have opened with a prologue that explained her circumstances to provide context into Rose’s family circumstances. Almost every adult in the book is a doctor, including a very young one who’s a nephrologist and part of the transplant program at a prestigious hospital.
The reveal is a good one, but not one that is entirely unexpected. And it’s one that I thought could have been led into way better than it was. The book read quickly, which I enjoyed, but Lundy didn’t connect the dots as well as I would have liked, and she created a timeline in Brian’s that I thought was completely unnecessary.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In Brian’s timeline his ex, Abigail, has disappeared and what’s left behind doesn’t bode well for her survival. In the current timeline Rose flees a graduation party when she encounters her best friend Kennedy hooking up with her ex boyfriend.
Later Rose is attacked and Kennedy is found barely alive before being declared dead at local healthcare giant Beryl, where many members of the community work, including parents of both Rose and Kennedy.
Rose becomes determined to find out who attacked her and killed Kennedy, and once she finds out about Abigail, she’s convinced there’s a connection between the young women. She’s helped along the way by Jake, the star quarterback of their high school football team and about as far removed socially from goth Rose as can be imagined.
The explanation for this pairing is that he noticed her at the party and was the one who found her after she escaped, compelling him to help her. This feels like a bit of a stretch, but there’s so many other things in the book that aren’t explained all that well or that seem a major part of the story without context that this isn’t worth belaboring.
Because the earlier timeline is told from Brian’s POV, we know he didn’t kill Abigail. But I’m not sure what else this storyline contributes to the book because it’s seems like it’s mainly him panicking.
Naturally Rose suspects him in the later timeline, but he doesn’t really have any connection to Kennedy. In fact, for as much time as Rose and Jake spend investigating, they don’t seem to be anywhere close to putting the pieces together until very late into the book, after someone almost knocks them over the head with the direction they should be looking. Which begged the question for me about why that person wasn’t pursuing it themselves.
It felt like there was a lot of running around not accomplishing anything. The romance developing between Rose and Jake felt like it was crammed into a different genre of book instead of evolving more naturally. There’s the situation with Rose’s mom that isn’t explained until it kind of is, but it feels like the book should have opened with a prologue that explained her circumstances to provide context into Rose’s family circumstances. Almost every adult in the book is a doctor, including a very young one who’s a nephrologist and part of the transplant program at a prestigious hospital.
The reveal is a good one, but not one that is entirely unexpected. And it’s one that I thought could have been led into way better than it was. The book read quickly, which I enjoyed, but Lundy didn’t connect the dots as well as I would have liked, and she created a timeline in Brian’s that I thought was completely unnecessary.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 28, 2026
Thank you to Macmillian Audio for my arc copy of The Worst is Yet to come.
Okay, so here's the thing: I actually liked the premise of this one. It sounded like something I would be completely into, and I thought the dual narration was one of the stronger parts of the book. Getting the story from both perspectives worked well and gave the characters' experiences more depth .
I didn't hate it, and there were definitely elements I enjoyed. The concept was interesting, the narration was easy to follow, and I can see why this book will work for readers who connect more strongly with the characters and storyline. Unfortunately, kept waiting for that moment when everything would click for me, and it never quite happened.
So unfortunately, this was a "good in theory, just not for me"
I updated my review as I was reported for not disclosing that it was an arc copy. I apologize for that , that was an error on my part. I don’t enjoy being bullied for my honest review but I thank her for pointing out my mistake so I could correct it.
Okay, so here's the thing: I actually liked the premise of this one. It sounded like something I would be completely into, and I thought the dual narration was one of the stronger parts of the book. Getting the story from both perspectives worked well and gave the characters' experiences more depth .
I didn't hate it, and there were definitely elements I enjoyed. The concept was interesting, the narration was easy to follow, and I can see why this book will work for readers who connect more strongly with the characters and storyline. Unfortunately, kept waiting for that moment when everything would click for me, and it never quite happened.
So unfortunately, this was a "good in theory, just not for me"
I updated my review as I was reported for not disclosing that it was an arc copy. I apologize for that , that was an error on my part. I don’t enjoy being bullied for my honest review but I thank her for pointing out my mistake so I could correct it.
May 25, 2026
3.5 / 5 stars - thank you to netgalley for this advanced copy!
we get to meet rose, a high schooler who finds out her best friend was with her ex at a party. soon after, her best friend is found dead in an abandoned house. the dynamic duo rose and jack (a former quarterback), work together to solve this murder and stumble across an elusive mystery that’s been haunting the town for decades.
this is a solid YA thriller from trish lundy. there are nuanced characters, interesting plot points, and an unique twist on the mystery behind the two murders! it seems like there will be a second book, i’m excited for her next novel!
we get to meet rose, a high schooler who finds out her best friend was with her ex at a party. soon after, her best friend is found dead in an abandoned house. the dynamic duo rose and jack (a former quarterback), work together to solve this murder and stumble across an elusive mystery that’s been haunting the town for decades.
this is a solid YA thriller from trish lundy. there are nuanced characters, interesting plot points, and an unique twist on the mystery behind the two murders! it seems like there will be a second book, i’m excited for her next novel!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was wild! I absolutely loved the back and forth between Brian in the past and Rose in the present.
Rose and her best friend being attacked on graduation night was so wild. The whole scene was such a roller coaster. When she found herself working with Jake, I was hoping they would find some answers. At times, it just felt like things were getting messier and messier.
Abigail’s murder from the past was so interesting. I was constantly curious about how it would tie into the current murder.
The ending got me! I literally wasn’t thinking along those lines. I enjoyed all the twists and suspense.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rose and her best friend being attacked on graduation night was so wild. The whole scene was such a roller coaster. When she found herself working with Jake, I was hoping they would find some answers. At times, it just felt like things were getting messier and messier.
Abigail’s murder from the past was so interesting. I was constantly curious about how it would tie into the current murder.
The ending got me! I literally wasn’t thinking along those lines. I enjoyed all the twists and suspense.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2025
Trish Lundy delivers another edge-of-your-seat thriller that's a masterclass in suspense and the human condition—it'll keep you up late rushing to the end!
December 26, 2025
Compelling dual timelines keep the pages turning in Trish Lundy’s latest gripping thriller. It simply demands to be read in a single, breathtaking sitting.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rose catches her best friend with her ex at a graduation party, storms off, gets nearly murdered at an abandoned housing development, and somehow that is STILL not the full list of reasons this girl is having the worst graduation night in recorded history.
Rose survives. Kennedy does not. And before Rose has even had time to understand that her best friend is dead, she learns Kennedy was killed in the same abandoned development where Rose was attacked. Also, Rose is now extremely interesting to the police because apparently “I just got nearly murdered too” does not automatically remove you from the suspect pool when you were publicly furious with the victim two minutes earlier. Graduation really got away from everybody.
Then there’s Jake, former quarterback, former heartthrob, current guy who finds Rose bleeding on the side of the road and immediately gets folded into the worst summer internship imaginable. He and Rose were not exactly on track to become a murder-solving duo, but suddenly they’re comparing clues, chasing down old stories, and talking to people who would prefer these two recent graduates discover literally any other hobby. I kept wanting to grab both of them by the shoulders and say, you know community college has air conditioning, right?
Rose was never going to leave this alone, though. Kennedy was her person, even after the betrayal, and Rose needs to know who killed her. Then she finds out about Abigail, a teenage mother who disappeared seventeen years earlier from the exact same place. No body. No real resolution. Everyone basically decided her ex probably did it and then let the years stack up on top of the case. Rose sees that connection and immediately develops the exact personality type that hears “old unsolved disappearance” and responds, great, add it to my emotional workload.
And this town has the kind of secrets that make you start side-eyeing every adult over forty. Nobody secretly stole a casserole recipe. People KNOW things. Families have history. Everyone keeps acting like the past is past while Rose keeps finding evidence that the past is very much still clocked in and causing problems. Every new answer gave me three new people to distrust.
The thing that got me most was Rose’s grief because she is furious at Kennedy and devastated by Kennedy at the same time. Kennedy hurt her. Rose loved her. Kennedy died before Rose ever got to decide what she wanted to do with that friendship. There’s no clean ending there. You don’t get to finish the fight. You don’t get to forgive them or not forgive them. You’re just stuck holding all of it. That hurt.
Rose and Jake do, however, make enough questionable investigative choices that I spent a lot of time mentally activating Find My Friends on their behalf. Why are you going there alone? Why are you confronting that person yourself? Why does nobody in a YA thriller ever text, “Hey, if I disappear, check the abandoned development”? I understood why they kept digging. I did not support their risk-management strategy.
The final reveal was where I went a little less feral than I wanted. I had a good time getting there, I liked how the seventeen-year-old case kept tightening around Kennedy’s murder, and I was happily suspicious of half the town. But once everything came out, a few pieces had me doing the thoughtful head tilt instead of the full-body gasp. Not a dealbreaker, just not quite the “EXCUSE ME?” moment I had been saving energy for.
The Worst Is Yet to Come lands at 3.5 stars for me. Rose kept me with her, the small-town secrets were messy in exactly the right way, and I had fun watching two teenagers treat personal safety like a suggestion while uncovering seventeen years of bad decisions other people should have dealt with already.
Whodunity Award: For Turning One Graduation-Night Friendship Disaster Into Seventeen Years of Secrets That Somehow Became Rose’s Problem to Solve
Huge thanks to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC and for reinforcing my long-held belief that if graduation night includes betrayal, an abandoned development, a masked attacker, and the former quarterback finding you bleeding beside the road, the evening is over. Go home. Hydrate. Call several adults.
Rose survives. Kennedy does not. And before Rose has even had time to understand that her best friend is dead, she learns Kennedy was killed in the same abandoned development where Rose was attacked. Also, Rose is now extremely interesting to the police because apparently “I just got nearly murdered too” does not automatically remove you from the suspect pool when you were publicly furious with the victim two minutes earlier. Graduation really got away from everybody.
Then there’s Jake, former quarterback, former heartthrob, current guy who finds Rose bleeding on the side of the road and immediately gets folded into the worst summer internship imaginable. He and Rose were not exactly on track to become a murder-solving duo, but suddenly they’re comparing clues, chasing down old stories, and talking to people who would prefer these two recent graduates discover literally any other hobby. I kept wanting to grab both of them by the shoulders and say, you know community college has air conditioning, right?
Rose was never going to leave this alone, though. Kennedy was her person, even after the betrayal, and Rose needs to know who killed her. Then she finds out about Abigail, a teenage mother who disappeared seventeen years earlier from the exact same place. No body. No real resolution. Everyone basically decided her ex probably did it and then let the years stack up on top of the case. Rose sees that connection and immediately develops the exact personality type that hears “old unsolved disappearance” and responds, great, add it to my emotional workload.
And this town has the kind of secrets that make you start side-eyeing every adult over forty. Nobody secretly stole a casserole recipe. People KNOW things. Families have history. Everyone keeps acting like the past is past while Rose keeps finding evidence that the past is very much still clocked in and causing problems. Every new answer gave me three new people to distrust.
The thing that got me most was Rose’s grief because she is furious at Kennedy and devastated by Kennedy at the same time. Kennedy hurt her. Rose loved her. Kennedy died before Rose ever got to decide what she wanted to do with that friendship. There’s no clean ending there. You don’t get to finish the fight. You don’t get to forgive them or not forgive them. You’re just stuck holding all of it. That hurt.
Rose and Jake do, however, make enough questionable investigative choices that I spent a lot of time mentally activating Find My Friends on their behalf. Why are you going there alone? Why are you confronting that person yourself? Why does nobody in a YA thriller ever text, “Hey, if I disappear, check the abandoned development”? I understood why they kept digging. I did not support their risk-management strategy.
The final reveal was where I went a little less feral than I wanted. I had a good time getting there, I liked how the seventeen-year-old case kept tightening around Kennedy’s murder, and I was happily suspicious of half the town. But once everything came out, a few pieces had me doing the thoughtful head tilt instead of the full-body gasp. Not a dealbreaker, just not quite the “EXCUSE ME?” moment I had been saving energy for.
The Worst Is Yet to Come lands at 3.5 stars for me. Rose kept me with her, the small-town secrets were messy in exactly the right way, and I had fun watching two teenagers treat personal safety like a suggestion while uncovering seventeen years of bad decisions other people should have dealt with already.
Whodunity Award: For Turning One Graduation-Night Friendship Disaster Into Seventeen Years of Secrets That Somehow Became Rose’s Problem to Solve
Huge thanks to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC and for reinforcing my long-held belief that if graduation night includes betrayal, an abandoned development, a masked attacker, and the former quarterback finding you bleeding beside the road, the evening is over. Go home. Hydrate. Call several adults.
September 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
1.5 stars.
Sadly this one is just not for me. It wasn’t written poorly, but something about the plot and the characters didn’t work for me.
First of all, in my opinion, there were way too many characters, especially doctors, to keep track of. Most of the senior class I could pick apart, but for a lot of the adults it took me a second to remember who they were. Way too much was going on too.
I didn’t like Kennedy at all, so I didn’t really care to learn what happened to her. Not that I think she deserved to die for what she did to Rose, but I feel like that was just kind of brushed to the side. I realize a murder investigation is more important than Kennedy just being a bad person and a bad friend, but it was still odd to me that Rose sort of just stopped caring what she did to her, and wasn’t that mad about it after a while.
If the author needed a conflict between the characters, I feel like there is a better way to do it than making us hate the person we are supposed to care about. Maybe that is just me that didn’t like Kennedy, but we didn’t get to know her enough to believe in their friendship. Personally I didn’t feel like there needed to be a conflict at all. You could have had the rest of the plot be the same and avoid what Kennedy did to Rose.
Another thing was the relationship between Jake and Rose was so unbelievable to me. First of all, it was super instalove and second of all, there was no buildup whatsoever between the two characters. I feel like it would’ve been better if Jake was just an established boyfriend beforehand.
Jake was just suddenly always into Rose and just so happened to start caring for her when all this went down. If he liked her for as long as he did, he should have approached her sooner. I get some people can be shy to ask their crush out, but Jake didn’t seem like the type.
I don’t think there was a single character in this book I truly cared about. Not even Rose. I felt bad for some of them, like Rose’s mom, but otherwise I had no emotion. So that added with not liking the plot either is just a recipe for disaster.
Having Brian’s POV also seemed unnecessary to me. It kind of helped move the story along, but I feel like its main purpose was to cast doubt on thinking it was Brian again. Spoiler here, but I never once thought Brian was the killer, for that exact reason. It was so obvious we were supposed to think he did it, so you knew it wouldn’t be the case.
Another spoiler, I did almost think Jake was the killer, but from reading the author’s first book I knew there would be something bigger. The reason I thought he may be the killer was because their relationship was so underdeveloped, I thought we weren’t suppose to get attached to him since he was the bad guy.
I should’ve realized from reading the author’s first book that I would not like the ending because unfortunately, I did not in this book again either. It just feels very unrealistic. Don’t even get me started on the last chapter. That made me angry just leaving it like that. I am fine with open endings, but I feel like there needs to be another book! It is crazy just to end it like that! At least it was frustrating to me.
This a was really easy read though. I read it all in one sitting. So if it sounds interesting to you, it might be worth a shot to pick it up. I was unfortunately not a fan!
1.5 stars.
Sadly this one is just not for me. It wasn’t written poorly, but something about the plot and the characters didn’t work for me.
First of all, in my opinion, there were way too many characters, especially doctors, to keep track of. Most of the senior class I could pick apart, but for a lot of the adults it took me a second to remember who they were. Way too much was going on too.
I didn’t like Kennedy at all, so I didn’t really care to learn what happened to her. Not that I think she deserved to die for what she did to Rose, but I feel like that was just kind of brushed to the side. I realize a murder investigation is more important than Kennedy just being a bad person and a bad friend, but it was still odd to me that Rose sort of just stopped caring what she did to her, and wasn’t that mad about it after a while.
If the author needed a conflict between the characters, I feel like there is a better way to do it than making us hate the person we are supposed to care about. Maybe that is just me that didn’t like Kennedy, but we didn’t get to know her enough to believe in their friendship. Personally I didn’t feel like there needed to be a conflict at all. You could have had the rest of the plot be the same and avoid what Kennedy did to Rose.
Another thing was the relationship between Jake and Rose was so unbelievable to me. First of all, it was super instalove and second of all, there was no buildup whatsoever between the two characters. I feel like it would’ve been better if Jake was just an established boyfriend beforehand.
Jake was just suddenly always into Rose and just so happened to start caring for her when all this went down. If he liked her for as long as he did, he should have approached her sooner. I get some people can be shy to ask their crush out, but Jake didn’t seem like the type.
I don’t think there was a single character in this book I truly cared about. Not even Rose. I felt bad for some of them, like Rose’s mom, but otherwise I had no emotion. So that added with not liking the plot either is just a recipe for disaster.
Having Brian’s POV also seemed unnecessary to me. It kind of helped move the story along, but I feel like its main purpose was to cast doubt on thinking it was Brian again. Spoiler here, but I never once thought Brian was the killer, for that exact reason. It was so obvious we were supposed to think he did it, so you knew it wouldn’t be the case.
Another spoiler, I did almost think Jake was the killer, but from reading the author’s first book I knew there would be something bigger. The reason I thought he may be the killer was because their relationship was so underdeveloped, I thought we weren’t suppose to get attached to him since he was the bad guy.
I should’ve realized from reading the author’s first book that I would not like the ending because unfortunately, I did not in this book again either. It just feels very unrealistic. Don’t even get me started on the last chapter. That made me angry just leaving it like that. I am fine with open endings, but I feel like there needs to be another book! It is crazy just to end it like that! At least it was frustrating to me.
This a was really easy read though. I read it all in one sitting. So if it sounds interesting to you, it might be worth a shot to pick it up. I was unfortunately not a fan!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Worst Is Yet To Come by Trish Lundy, Teenager Rose is at a party with her best friend Kennedy and while looking for her best friend she finds her making out with the love of Rose’s life her ex Nick this is what causes rose to leave and go to her favorite place an incomplete neighborhood where she likes to look around and find things to help with the jewelry making. When there She realize that she is not alone only to to wake up sometime later with a massive head injury when she starts making her way outside of the neighborhood she notices someone in a hoodie following her but soon popular boy from school Jake stops to help her. he not only brings her to the hospital but Rose finds him coming around more and more and when she learned her best friend Kennedy was found at the same night she was attacked she wants to know who did it and Jake is going to help with that while investigating Kennedy‘s murder Rose learns of another girl in 2009 named Abigail who was found murdered in the same woods. The more Rose and Jake look into Abigail and Kennedy‘s murders the more in common they seem to have and the killer is no one they thought it would be. I really like this book I like the two points of view between Brian Abigail and his detective dad along with Rose Jake and her dad I always love when a book ends in a place you would’ve never guessed at the beginning and that’s definitely this book I really enjoyed it I found it fast paced there’s no really moments that lag is a good YA of mystery that I definitely recommend. #NetGalley, #TheBlindreviewer, #MyHonestReview,
August 29, 2026
The ending was pretty crazy as to who was behind it all. Didn’t expect that kind of set up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), NetGalley, and Trish Lundy for a copy of The Worst Is Yet to Come in exchange for an honest review.
When Rose is attacked at an abandoned house, Jake—the school quarterback and basically the coolest guy around—steps in and becomes her hero. As they start investigating the attack, the murder of Rose's best friend, and a story from many years ago, the pieces slowly begin to come together.
And this is where I lost interest.
I actually liked this book in the beginning. I liked the dual timelines, I liked the mystery, and I was invested in figuring out what the hell was going on. The story had me curious enough to keep going because I wanted answers.
Then the answer came.
WHAT. IN. THE. ACTUAL. HELL?! 🤦♀️
I mean, really?! That was the explanation?! It made absolutely zero sense to me. And the most frustrating part is that I was actually surprised by who did it. I should have been sitting there thinking, OMG, I can't believe I didn't see that coming!
Instead, I was sitting there thinking…
“Wait. THAT'S IT?”
So now I'm annoyed because I was surprised, but the reveal didn't give me that satisfying holy shit moment I wanted. It just made me question the entire storyline. 😂
I really wanted to love this one because there were pieces that worked for me, especially the dual timelines, but the payoff completely missed the mark.
⭐ 2 Stars
Final Verdict:
I was interested. I was invested. I was surprised. And somehow, after all of that, I still didn't care when I got the answer. 😩 The beginning had me, but the reveal lost me completely. Unfortunately, this one just didn't hit the mark for me.
When Rose is attacked at an abandoned house, Jake—the school quarterback and basically the coolest guy around—steps in and becomes her hero. As they start investigating the attack, the murder of Rose's best friend, and a story from many years ago, the pieces slowly begin to come together.
And this is where I lost interest.
I actually liked this book in the beginning. I liked the dual timelines, I liked the mystery, and I was invested in figuring out what the hell was going on. The story had me curious enough to keep going because I wanted answers.
Then the answer came.
WHAT. IN. THE. ACTUAL. HELL?! 🤦♀️
I mean, really?! That was the explanation?! It made absolutely zero sense to me. And the most frustrating part is that I was actually surprised by who did it. I should have been sitting there thinking, OMG, I can't believe I didn't see that coming!
Instead, I was sitting there thinking…
“Wait. THAT'S IT?”
So now I'm annoyed because I was surprised, but the reveal didn't give me that satisfying holy shit moment I wanted. It just made me question the entire storyline. 😂
I really wanted to love this one because there were pieces that worked for me, especially the dual timelines, but the payoff completely missed the mark.
⭐ 2 Stars
Final Verdict:
I was interested. I was invested. I was surprised. And somehow, after all of that, I still didn't care when I got the answer. 😩 The beginning had me, but the reveal lost me completely. Unfortunately, this one just didn't hit the mark for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*3.75 stars rounded up*
I was a huge fan of Trish Lundy's debut novel so was very excited to read The Worst Is Yet to Come! While this book did not capture me as fully as The One That Got Away With Murder, it was still an addictive thriller. I read this in two sittings! There was a bit of a slower start and it took me about 20% of the way through to fully connect with Rose, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. I thought I had it all figured out, but this story did not go in the direction I was expecting - plus that cliffhanger at the end? Leaves me wanting more for sure!
I enjoyed the past and present timelines and getting different POVs. It was a little tricky at times to keep up with all of the doctors, but the way everyone and everything was interconnected in the end was really well done. I found that things wrapped up a bit quickly, as did her first book, but the overall action and mystery of the story was very engaging. There is more maturity to this book than a typical YA thriller, which I can appreciate as someone who just loves solving mysteries. So good!
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC - pub. date Oct. 6!
I was a huge fan of Trish Lundy's debut novel so was very excited to read The Worst Is Yet to Come! While this book did not capture me as fully as The One That Got Away With Murder, it was still an addictive thriller. I read this in two sittings! There was a bit of a slower start and it took me about 20% of the way through to fully connect with Rose, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. I thought I had it all figured out, but this story did not go in the direction I was expecting - plus that cliffhanger at the end? Leaves me wanting more for sure!
I enjoyed the past and present timelines and getting different POVs. It was a little tricky at times to keep up with all of the doctors, but the way everyone and everything was interconnected in the end was really well done. I found that things wrapped up a bit quickly, as did her first book, but the overall action and mystery of the story was very engaging. There is more maturity to this book than a typical YA thriller, which I can appreciate as someone who just loves solving mysteries. So good!
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC - pub. date Oct. 6!
September 25, 2026
🔪📚 The Worst Is Yet to Come by Trish Lundy📚🔪
High school may be over, but the fight for their lives is just beginning.👀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 STARS
This YA thriller follows a girl who survives a murder attempt and the boy who finds her on the side of the road. The two team up to figure out who is targeting teen girls in their small town—and why.😳
The mystery, small-town secrets, and “who can we actually trust?” vibes kept me turning the pages. 🔎 There’s murder, danger, plenty of questions, and two teens trying to uncover the truth before someone else becomes the next target.
If you’re looking for a YA thriller filled with secrets, suspense, murder, and a race to uncover the truth, add this one to your TBR! 🖤
Because graduating high school doesn’t mean the danger is over…👀
Thank you to NetGalley, Trish Lundy and Macmillan Audio for this ALC
High school may be over, but the fight for their lives is just beginning.👀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 STARS
This YA thriller follows a girl who survives a murder attempt and the boy who finds her on the side of the road. The two team up to figure out who is targeting teen girls in their small town—and why.😳
The mystery, small-town secrets, and “who can we actually trust?” vibes kept me turning the pages. 🔎 There’s murder, danger, plenty of questions, and two teens trying to uncover the truth before someone else becomes the next target.
If you’re looking for a YA thriller filled with secrets, suspense, murder, and a race to uncover the truth, add this one to your TBR! 🖤
Because graduating high school doesn’t mean the danger is over…👀
Thank you to NetGalley, Trish Lundy and Macmillan Audio for this ALC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Worst Is Yet to Come is a fast-paced YA thriller where Rose i found assaulted at the same scene where her best friend was murdered. This book was fun and chaotic. I was very surprised by the "why" of it all and had no idea who the perpetrator was. The story felt really YA, so if you don't typically enjoy those types of books, this may not be for you. It was left open ended, leading me to wonder if there will be a sequel. I did not think the past timeline was particularly relevant and took me out of the main story, but overall I liked the book.
The audio was good and the voice actors had great voices.
Thank you to NetGallley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The audio was good and the voice actors had great voices.
Thank you to NetGallley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2026
history is repeating itself in this small town murder mystery. this was actually really good, kept me rapt! all the things I enjoy in a thriller : dual timeline, a cold case, romance subplot.
I never knew who to trust, so the big reveal got me. reminded me the tiniest bit of Riverdale (before the show went downhill) + of A Good Girl's Guide To Murder !!
Thank you Macmillan for the digital arc 🙂
I never knew who to trust, so the big reveal got me. reminded me the tiniest bit of Riverdale (before the show went downhill) + of A Good Girl's Guide To Murder !!
Thank you Macmillan for the digital arc 🙂
Want to Read
July 5, 2026🔎 The Worst Is Yet to Come 🔎
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• YA Mystery Thriller
• Small Town Secrets
• Attempted Murder
• Survivor FMC
• Amateur Investigation
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: October 6, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• YA Mystery Thriller
• Small Town Secrets
• Attempted Murder
• Survivor FMC
• Amateur Investigation
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: October 6, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First off a big thank you to Netgalley and Macmillian for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3 stars ( 3.5 if allowed to use half stars)
Rose and Kennedy are just two best friends celebrating their senior year finally being over at a Senior-Sent-Off party with the rest of their class until some events occur that make their friendship get a bit rocky leading to Rose leaving the party early. She goes to Autumn Birch, a housing development project, in the Birch Woods to calm down while she looks for items for her next jewelry project. Rose soon finds out she isn't the only one at the site and only one of the best friends will survive the night. To make things more interesting this wont be the first event at this location. Seventeen years ago a teen named Abigail went missing from this exact spot never to be seen again leaving more questions than answers behind to explain why.
This story is told in a duel POV timeline. We have Abigail from 2009 and Rose from the present day with a middle POV that crosses both timelines.
After the murder of her best friend Rose becomes obsessed with trying to figure out what really happened that night. Why did she survive but Kennedy didn't? Who can she trust? Is something bigger happening that she stepped into? As she looks deeper into what happened that night she finds out about the missing girl Abigail but not only about her missing person case but about her life and how it could connect to Kennedy's murder. Could the same person who killed Kennedy have killed Abigail seventeen years ago? Is there a serial killer in the town who just hasn't slipped up until now? Are they going to come back after Rose to finish what they started? With the help of the guy who found her that night, high school quarterback Jack, they are going to investigate this as far as they can with hidden sources throwing twists at them along the way.
On to my review!!
This story was pretty good it kept my attention the while time and made me want to keep reading to find out the reason things were happening. The plot was pretty solid and like most books there were a few plot holes that can't leave my head. One specifically is timing. The characters make a big deal of how some people can't be the killer because there was no way they could get from one location to the other. Repeatedly it is talked about how long it would take to get to Birch Wood from other locations in town. Yet some how during one scene the killer ends up at one location way before someone else when they probably left after the character. It just doesn't add up. The other thing that got me was there was no explanation of what got the killer to this point. What made them resort to murder in the first place? What convinced them that this was a good idea and no one would know or catch on. I understand half of it but not all of it.
So the reasoning for my 3 star is what i listed above but also the fact I actually picked out the killer before even hitting the 100 page mark. At the time i couldnt tell you why i was picking them out as being the killer but it was just a gut feeling that came out right. The small reasoning i had written down ended up being true in a *shrug* "well you're not wrong" kind of way. There were a few other things that brought it down for me like how it was a huge lead up for the first half then it kinda all just rolled down slowly for the second half. While the big reveal happened really fast and was a let down with the ending chapters it just didn't feel like justice was served but in a way pointless. *evil laugh* "this is my master plan!!...but i will wait here until the police come. Are you comfortable? no? aww im sorry they will be along soon and this will all be over." Don't even get me started on the ending chapter that leaves the story open ending like they were is going to be a follow up book. All it does it make me think we the readers are getting to decide if the killings are over or are about to be restarted.
Over all pretty good. Maybe I am just not the goal audience. I do read Young Adult but i also like mystery books of all ages so maybe i caught on too fast making the story less fun for me. I do believe others would love this book though.
Rating: 3 stars ( 3.5 if allowed to use half stars)
Rose and Kennedy are just two best friends celebrating their senior year finally being over at a Senior-Sent-Off party with the rest of their class until some events occur that make their friendship get a bit rocky leading to Rose leaving the party early. She goes to Autumn Birch, a housing development project, in the Birch Woods to calm down while she looks for items for her next jewelry project. Rose soon finds out she isn't the only one at the site and only one of the best friends will survive the night. To make things more interesting this wont be the first event at this location. Seventeen years ago a teen named Abigail went missing from this exact spot never to be seen again leaving more questions than answers behind to explain why.
This story is told in a duel POV timeline. We have Abigail from 2009 and Rose from the present day with a middle POV that crosses both timelines.
After the murder of her best friend Rose becomes obsessed with trying to figure out what really happened that night. Why did she survive but Kennedy didn't? Who can she trust? Is something bigger happening that she stepped into? As she looks deeper into what happened that night she finds out about the missing girl Abigail but not only about her missing person case but about her life and how it could connect to Kennedy's murder. Could the same person who killed Kennedy have killed Abigail seventeen years ago? Is there a serial killer in the town who just hasn't slipped up until now? Are they going to come back after Rose to finish what they started? With the help of the guy who found her that night, high school quarterback Jack, they are going to investigate this as far as they can with hidden sources throwing twists at them along the way.
On to my review!!
This story was pretty good it kept my attention the while time and made me want to keep reading to find out the reason things were happening. The plot was pretty solid and like most books there were a few plot holes that can't leave my head. One specifically is timing. The characters make a big deal of how some people can't be the killer because there was no way they could get from one location to the other. Repeatedly it is talked about how long it would take to get to Birch Wood from other locations in town. Yet some how during one scene the killer ends up at one location way before someone else when they probably left after the character. It just doesn't add up. The other thing that got me was there was no explanation of what got the killer to this point. What made them resort to murder in the first place? What convinced them that this was a good idea and no one would know or catch on. I understand half of it but not all of it.
So the reasoning for my 3 star is what i listed above but also the fact I actually picked out the killer before even hitting the 100 page mark. At the time i couldnt tell you why i was picking them out as being the killer but it was just a gut feeling that came out right. The small reasoning i had written down ended up being true in a *shrug* "well you're not wrong" kind of way. There were a few other things that brought it down for me like how it was a huge lead up for the first half then it kinda all just rolled down slowly for the second half. While the big reveal happened really fast and was a let down with the ending chapters it just didn't feel like justice was served but in a way pointless. *evil laugh* "this is my master plan!!...but i will wait here until the police come. Are you comfortable? no? aww im sorry they will be along soon and this will all be over." Don't even get me started on the ending chapter that leaves the story open ending like they were is going to be a follow up book. All it does it make me think we the readers are getting to decide if the killings are over or are about to be restarted.
Over all pretty good. Maybe I am just not the goal audience. I do read Young Adult but i also like mystery books of all ages so maybe i caught on too fast making the story less fun for me. I do believe others would love this book though.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you're a fan of YA thrillers packed with small-town secrets, murder mysteries, suspicious everyone, and the kind of twists that make you immediately start accusing every character, then “The Worst Is Yet to Come” by Trish Lundy is a seriously fun ride.
The story kicks off on graduation night when Rose leaves a party after discovering a devastating betrayal only to be brutally attacked by a masked figure at an abandoned housing development. She survives, but her best friend Kennedy doesn't. Things get even creepier when Rose learns another teenage girl, Abigail, disappeared from that exact same location seventeen years earlier. Coincidence? Definitely not.
I loved how the mystery jumps between the past and present, slowly revealing how Abigail's disappearance connects to what's happening to Rose. Every new clue raises even more questions, and I had a blast trying to piece everything together. The small Rust Belt town is absolutely overflowing with secrets, lies, betrayals, and people who know way more than they're saying.
Rose was a really easy protagonist to root for. She's a goth jewelry maker who refuses to let almost being murdered stop her from digging into the truth, even when the police are looking at her as the prime suspect. Her unlikely partnership with Jake, the former high school quarterback and resident golden boy, was also a fun dynamic. They're complete opposites, and while the romance wasn't my favorite part of the book, I enjoyed watching them work together to uncover what was really going on.
The pacing kept me flying through the pages. Between the attacks, the community gossip, long-buried secrets, and the constant feeling that the killer wasn't finished yet, there was always something happening. Even when I thought I had the mystery figured out, the story kept throwing enough new information at me to make me second-guess myself.
I will say I guessed one of the big reveals fairly early, but honestly, that didn't take away from the fun. The journey to get there was full of enough twists, emotional moments, and hidden connections that I still couldn't put it down. There were also a couple of plot conveniences and a few slower stretches in the middle, and I wasn't completely sold on the chemistry between Rose and Jake, but neither issue hurt my overall enjoyment.
What I appreciated most was how the story wasn't just about catching a killer. It's also about friendship, betrayal, growing up, family expectations, and how the secrets a town buries never stay buried forever.
Overall, “The Worst Is Yet to Come” is an addictive YA mystery that's equal parts murder investigation, teen drama, and small-town conspiracy. If you enjoy books by Holly Jackson or Karen M. McManus, love dual timelines, and can't resist trying to solve the mystery before the characters do, this one is definitely worth picking up.
If you're a fan of YA thrillers packed with small-town secrets, murder mysteries, suspicious everyone, and the kind of twists that make you immediately start accusing every character, then “The Worst Is Yet to Come” by Trish Lundy is a seriously fun ride.
The story kicks off on graduation night when Rose leaves a party after discovering a devastating betrayal only to be brutally attacked by a masked figure at an abandoned housing development. She survives, but her best friend Kennedy doesn't. Things get even creepier when Rose learns another teenage girl, Abigail, disappeared from that exact same location seventeen years earlier. Coincidence? Definitely not.
I loved how the mystery jumps between the past and present, slowly revealing how Abigail's disappearance connects to what's happening to Rose. Every new clue raises even more questions, and I had a blast trying to piece everything together. The small Rust Belt town is absolutely overflowing with secrets, lies, betrayals, and people who know way more than they're saying.
Rose was a really easy protagonist to root for. She's a goth jewelry maker who refuses to let almost being murdered stop her from digging into the truth, even when the police are looking at her as the prime suspect. Her unlikely partnership with Jake, the former high school quarterback and resident golden boy, was also a fun dynamic. They're complete opposites, and while the romance wasn't my favorite part of the book, I enjoyed watching them work together to uncover what was really going on.
The pacing kept me flying through the pages. Between the attacks, the community gossip, long-buried secrets, and the constant feeling that the killer wasn't finished yet, there was always something happening. Even when I thought I had the mystery figured out, the story kept throwing enough new information at me to make me second-guess myself.
I will say I guessed one of the big reveals fairly early, but honestly, that didn't take away from the fun. The journey to get there was full of enough twists, emotional moments, and hidden connections that I still couldn't put it down. There were also a couple of plot conveniences and a few slower stretches in the middle, and I wasn't completely sold on the chemistry between Rose and Jake, but neither issue hurt my overall enjoyment.
What I appreciated most was how the story wasn't just about catching a killer. It's also about friendship, betrayal, growing up, family expectations, and how the secrets a town buries never stay buried forever.
Overall, “The Worst Is Yet to Come” is an addictive YA mystery that's equal parts murder investigation, teen drama, and small-town conspiracy. If you enjoy books by Holly Jackson or Karen M. McManus, love dual timelines, and can't resist trying to solve the mystery before the characters do, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co., and NetGalley for the eARC.
I'm having a lot of fun diving back into the YA genre, especially mysteries and thrillers, and The Worst Is Yet to Come reminded me exactly why.
This definitely leans upper YA, tackling darker themes, teen pregnancy, and mature relationships.
At first, I was a little unsure how all of the different storylines and timelines were connected, but everything came together [almost] seamlessly by the end. It made for such a bingeable reading experience that I finished the book in a single day.
Rose and Jake were both likable protagonists, and I really enjoyed watching their partnership develop as they unraveled the town's secrets. While their romance definitely falls into the insta-love category, it actually worked for me once I reminded myself that these are teenagers experiencing everything at full speed. It felt authentic to their age,
My biggest criticism is that I wanted more depth from the supporting cast. Characters like Nick, Nova, Aidan, Marlow, and even some of the doctors all played important roles, but I found myself wishing I'd spent more time getting to know them. I would also have enjoyed a little more background on Kennedy, considering the beginning of the book (and the entire mystery) are centered around her. I didn't find her very likable from the first few pages at the senior send-off. Rose seemed highly co-dependent on Kennedy, and the way it was written made it seem that Kennedy ate it up having her "little goth shadow". A little more background would have made it easier to keep every storyline straight and would have made some of the emotional moments land with even greater impact.
The ending left me with a lot of questions, in a good way, but I'm genuinely wondering if it's setting up a sequel. OR if it's just there to make me stare at the wall and worry about Rose for the next 3-5 business days. There are enough loose threads that I'd happily return to this world for another mystery.
I'm having a lot of fun diving back into the YA genre, especially mysteries and thrillers, and The Worst Is Yet to Come reminded me exactly why.
This definitely leans upper YA, tackling darker themes, teen pregnancy, and mature relationships.
At first, I was a little unsure how all of the different storylines and timelines were connected, but everything came together [almost] seamlessly by the end. It made for such a bingeable reading experience that I finished the book in a single day.
Rose and Jake were both likable protagonists, and I really enjoyed watching their partnership develop as they unraveled the town's secrets. While their romance definitely falls into the insta-love category, it actually worked for me once I reminded myself that these are teenagers experiencing everything at full speed. It felt authentic to their age,
My biggest criticism is that I wanted more depth from the supporting cast. Characters like Nick, Nova, Aidan, Marlow, and even some of the doctors all played important roles, but I found myself wishing I'd spent more time getting to know them. I would also have enjoyed a little more background on Kennedy, considering the beginning of the book (and the entire mystery) are centered around her. I didn't find her very likable from the first few pages at the senior send-off. Rose seemed highly co-dependent on Kennedy, and the way it was written made it seem that Kennedy ate it up having her "little goth shadow". A little more background would have made it easier to keep every storyline straight and would have made some of the emotional moments land with even greater impact.
The ending left me with a lot of questions, in a good way, but I'm genuinely wondering if it's setting up a sequel. OR if it's just there to make me stare at the wall and worry about Rose for the next 3-5 business days. There are enough loose threads that I'd happily return to this world for another mystery.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Trish Lundy has given us another stunning thriller in The Worst is Yet to Come.
Two best friends, Rose and Kennedy, are attacked on graduation night and only one of them makes it out alive.
Rose is left for dead at an abandoned house and rescued by former high school quarterback and heartthrob, Jake. Determined to find out who killed her best friend, Rose teams up with Jake and starts to follow the trail of evidence the killer left behind. When Rose learns that another girl was killed seventeen years ago and discovered missing in the exact same place, she begins to wonder if there is a connection. As Rose and Jake dig more and more, they begin to draw closer together and their friendship becomes something more...but Rose and Jake soon discover they have headed down a path of horrors that threatens to expose treacherous secrets...secrets the killer will do anything to keep hidden.
This is another fantastic murder mystery from Trish Lundy! Lundy does a wonderful job of building suspense and tension throughout the story. She gives the reader enough information to get them thinking along with Rose to try and figure out who the killer is, but she also places clever red herrings throughout the plot to throw the reader off.
This book is told through dual POV, Rose and Brian. Brian is the ex-boyfriend of the first girl who was murdered. So, not only do we get the present day mystery of Kennedy's murder, but we are also given the past mystery of Brian's ex-girlfriend's murder. It adds another layer of intrigue to the story, and gives more insight into some of the characters and the situation.
Trish Lundy does an excellent job of exploring grief and loss in this book. Through both Rose and Brian, we see how grief and the healing process are experienced differently for everyone.
I love that this book takes place in Lundy's hometown of Rochester, NY. That is also my hometown and I have never read a book before that is set in Rochester. It was great to read all of the Rochester references and envision the places and things Lundy mentions.
Great book!
Two best friends, Rose and Kennedy, are attacked on graduation night and only one of them makes it out alive.
Rose is left for dead at an abandoned house and rescued by former high school quarterback and heartthrob, Jake. Determined to find out who killed her best friend, Rose teams up with Jake and starts to follow the trail of evidence the killer left behind. When Rose learns that another girl was killed seventeen years ago and discovered missing in the exact same place, she begins to wonder if there is a connection. As Rose and Jake dig more and more, they begin to draw closer together and their friendship becomes something more...but Rose and Jake soon discover they have headed down a path of horrors that threatens to expose treacherous secrets...secrets the killer will do anything to keep hidden.
This is another fantastic murder mystery from Trish Lundy! Lundy does a wonderful job of building suspense and tension throughout the story. She gives the reader enough information to get them thinking along with Rose to try and figure out who the killer is, but she also places clever red herrings throughout the plot to throw the reader off.
This book is told through dual POV, Rose and Brian. Brian is the ex-boyfriend of the first girl who was murdered. So, not only do we get the present day mystery of Kennedy's murder, but we are also given the past mystery of Brian's ex-girlfriend's murder. It adds another layer of intrigue to the story, and gives more insight into some of the characters and the situation.
Trish Lundy does an excellent job of exploring grief and loss in this book. Through both Rose and Brian, we see how grief and the healing process are experienced differently for everyone.
I love that this book takes place in Lundy's hometown of Rochester, NY. That is also my hometown and I have never read a book before that is set in Rochester. It was great to read all of the Rochester references and envision the places and things Lundy mentions.
Great book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Worst Is Yet to Come by Trish Lundy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC!
The Worst Is Yet to Come is a YA mystery centered around Rose, who is attacked and left for dead at an abandoned house. After receiving some damaging news, Rose heads out looking for trinkets to use for her jewelry pieces when she swears she hears her friend Kennedy scream her name. Before Rose can make sense of what’s happening, she is attacked and knocked unconscious.
When Rose comes to, she hears someone crying and runs for safety. She eventually makes it to a road, where she comes face-to-face with headlights and is rescued by her high school’s quarterback, Jake. Rose survives, but her friend Kennedy isn’t so fortunate.
With so many questions surrounding what happened—and fingers pointing toward Rose—she begins looking into another girl who suffered a similar fate to Kennedy in the exact same location.
Trish Lundy did a great job keeping me guessing about some of the events throughout the story. I especially enjoyed the time jumps and the alternating POVs between two individuals who experienced similar events. The story kept me fully engaged, and there were several characters and moments that had me questioning everything I thought I knew.
My only downside was that I felt some of the relationships weren’t developed as fully as they could have been. At times, they felt a little rushed, and I also struggled to fully understand how certain friendships continued given the information that came to light.
Overall, this was an engaging YA mystery with plenty of twists and questions to keep me turning the pages. If you enjoy mysteries with multiple POVs, time jumps, and characters who may not be telling the whole story, this one is worth checking out!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC!
The Worst Is Yet to Come is a YA mystery centered around Rose, who is attacked and left for dead at an abandoned house. After receiving some damaging news, Rose heads out looking for trinkets to use for her jewelry pieces when she swears she hears her friend Kennedy scream her name. Before Rose can make sense of what’s happening, she is attacked and knocked unconscious.
When Rose comes to, she hears someone crying and runs for safety. She eventually makes it to a road, where she comes face-to-face with headlights and is rescued by her high school’s quarterback, Jake. Rose survives, but her friend Kennedy isn’t so fortunate.
With so many questions surrounding what happened—and fingers pointing toward Rose—she begins looking into another girl who suffered a similar fate to Kennedy in the exact same location.
Trish Lundy did a great job keeping me guessing about some of the events throughout the story. I especially enjoyed the time jumps and the alternating POVs between two individuals who experienced similar events. The story kept me fully engaged, and there were several characters and moments that had me questioning everything I thought I knew.
My only downside was that I felt some of the relationships weren’t developed as fully as they could have been. At times, they felt a little rushed, and I also struggled to fully understand how certain friendships continued given the information that came to light.
Overall, this was an engaging YA mystery with plenty of twists and questions to keep me turning the pages. If you enjoy mysteries with multiple POVs, time jumps, and characters who may not be telling the whole story, this one is worth checking out!
Read
September 30, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for providing me with a digital ARC of this YA thriller.
wo timelines - in the present day, Rose and Kennedy are opposites and yet, remarkably, they are also best friends. But on the night of their graduation party, Kennedy betrays Rose and the two have a huge fight. Rose runs away to a local abandoned housing development. And it is there that she is attacked and left for dead. But she isn't dead - she runs away and a fellow student, Jake, picks her up and takes her to the local hospital. In the meantime, Rose's friend Kennedy is attacked by the same person that ambushed Rose - but Kennedy does not escape.
The second timeline involves Brian and Abigail. Seventeen years ago, Abigail disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Brian dated Abigail which resulted in a baby and a lot of people in the community hating Brian because of that. There was a mutual decision to not get married but to co-parent. And then - Abigail disappears. Brian is, of course, a suspect. But Brian's dad works on the local police department. And he has an alibi of sorts so no one is ever arrested and no one really knows what happened to Abigail.
The two cases are eerily similar. But what serial killer takes a seventeen year break? Jake and Rose are warned to not investigate but, of course, Rose's guilt about arguing with Kennedy right before the murder makes it impossible for her to NOT investigate what happened. Plus she needs her own answers so she isn't walking around looking over her shoulder all the time. She suspects Brian but, as readers, we know that he did not murder Abigail.
It's a very intense book with lots of unexpected twists and turns - especially at the end. If you are a fan of thrillers, then this is a must read.
wo timelines - in the present day, Rose and Kennedy are opposites and yet, remarkably, they are also best friends. But on the night of their graduation party, Kennedy betrays Rose and the two have a huge fight. Rose runs away to a local abandoned housing development. And it is there that she is attacked and left for dead. But she isn't dead - she runs away and a fellow student, Jake, picks her up and takes her to the local hospital. In the meantime, Rose's friend Kennedy is attacked by the same person that ambushed Rose - but Kennedy does not escape.
The second timeline involves Brian and Abigail. Seventeen years ago, Abigail disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Brian dated Abigail which resulted in a baby and a lot of people in the community hating Brian because of that. There was a mutual decision to not get married but to co-parent. And then - Abigail disappears. Brian is, of course, a suspect. But Brian's dad works on the local police department. And he has an alibi of sorts so no one is ever arrested and no one really knows what happened to Abigail.
The two cases are eerily similar. But what serial killer takes a seventeen year break? Jake and Rose are warned to not investigate but, of course, Rose's guilt about arguing with Kennedy right before the murder makes it impossible for her to NOT investigate what happened. Plus she needs her own answers so she isn't walking around looking over her shoulder all the time. She suspects Brian but, as readers, we know that he did not murder Abigail.
It's a very intense book with lots of unexpected twists and turns - especially at the end. If you are a fan of thrillers, then this is a must read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I made the rookie mistake of starting this book at bedtime, clearly forgetting that good thrillers hook me quick and will 100% keep me from sleeping. The Worst is Yet to Come by Trish Lundy did exactly that!
I had a lot of fun with this thriller - it gave me all the vibes I expect from them - anxiety, suspense, confusion, anger, sadness, and closure. Our main character, Rose, frustrated the hell out of me, mainly because she took on things that really made me want to shake her but I could also admire her determination. When Jake recruited himself as her sidekick I felt a little bit more at ease because at least she wasn't performing this amateur investigation all by herself! I loved the conspiracy! I love that you really had zero idea who to trust until the very end! And that tiny cliff hanger? Yes, please give me more!
The only things keeping this from a 5-star for me were the 'romance' and the clean up at the end. The relationship between Rose and Jake was cute but at the same time felt like it was in there as filler. It would have been a nice epilogue addition and maybe focused more on the building of their friendship within the story. And to avoid any spoilers, I will say that the clean up of the mystery at the end could have given me a bit more. Like I wanted a full replay of the event to know exactly what went down in that housing development. But honestly that is a me thing - the story really was tied up well and I loved every second of this book!
Although targeted towards a YA audience, I would recommend this book to all of my thriller reading friends. The mystery, the suspense, the guessing games - it was all there and it was great!
I had a lot of fun with this thriller - it gave me all the vibes I expect from them - anxiety, suspense, confusion, anger, sadness, and closure. Our main character, Rose, frustrated the hell out of me, mainly because she took on things that really made me want to shake her but I could also admire her determination. When Jake recruited himself as her sidekick I felt a little bit more at ease because at least she wasn't performing this amateur investigation all by herself! I loved the conspiracy! I love that you really had zero idea who to trust until the very end! And that tiny cliff hanger? Yes, please give me more!
The only things keeping this from a 5-star for me were the 'romance' and the clean up at the end. The relationship between Rose and Jake was cute but at the same time felt like it was in there as filler. It would have been a nice epilogue addition and maybe focused more on the building of their friendship within the story. And to avoid any spoilers, I will say that the clean up of the mystery at the end could have given me a bit more. Like I wanted a full replay of the event to know exactly what went down in that housing development. But honestly that is a me thing - the story really was tied up well and I loved every second of this book!
Although targeted towards a YA audience, I would recommend this book to all of my thriller reading friends. The mystery, the suspense, the guessing games - it was all there and it was great!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ooooh that ending! Chills, I’m telling you.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’m oh so grateful for this one as it was excellent!
This is a very fun and definitely pulse pounding mystery/thriller that centers around a group of friends who have just graduated high school. These are upper crust kids, whose parents work at a nearby hospital/paediatric transplant Center. Most of the kids want to be doctors too, and volunteer at the hospital.
When one is murdered, it’s a race to find the killer as well as to discover whether or not the killing is related to another missing teenager from the same town.
This is a well constructed mystery with plenty of plot twists and some genuine edge of the seat moments. I stayed up wayyyy too late to finish this and it was worth it! Terrific ending. I wanted to both shake hands with and swat at the author for it.
The narrators of the audio are great. I really appreciate when publishers take the care to have dual narrators in books where there are chapters from the perspectives of differing genders. When you’re listening to a first person perspective and that isn’t there, it can kill my suspension of disbelief. This, though, was spot on especially with voices that matched each other well in speed, cadence and delivery.
This was a great late summer listen, thinking about all the new grads out there. I highly recommend this for mystery and suspense fans who are looking for some tingly exciting entertainment. Have the late night coffee ready when you’re near the end!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’m oh so grateful for this one as it was excellent!
This is a very fun and definitely pulse pounding mystery/thriller that centers around a group of friends who have just graduated high school. These are upper crust kids, whose parents work at a nearby hospital/paediatric transplant Center. Most of the kids want to be doctors too, and volunteer at the hospital.
When one is murdered, it’s a race to find the killer as well as to discover whether or not the killing is related to another missing teenager from the same town.
This is a well constructed mystery with plenty of plot twists and some genuine edge of the seat moments. I stayed up wayyyy too late to finish this and it was worth it! Terrific ending. I wanted to both shake hands with and swat at the author for it.
The narrators of the audio are great. I really appreciate when publishers take the care to have dual narrators in books where there are chapters from the perspectives of differing genders. When you’re listening to a first person perspective and that isn’t there, it can kill my suspension of disbelief. This, though, was spot on especially with voices that matched each other well in speed, cadence and delivery.
This was a great late summer listen, thinking about all the new grads out there. I highly recommend this for mystery and suspense fans who are looking for some tingly exciting entertainment. Have the late night coffee ready when you’re near the end!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐️
This cover totally sucked me in while I was looking for an audiobook ALC, and I am so glad it did because this was a pleasant surprise. I am thankful for the complimentary copy from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, as they always deliver a top-notch production.
The audiobook was narrated by André Santana, Helen Laser, and Mehr Dudeja, who all did a stellar job. I’m a fan of Laser and have read a lot of her recent books, so I quickly learned that she wasn’t the main female narrator for this book. And you know what? That was perfectly fine! I loved Dudeja’s more youthful vocals for the FMC, which balanced nicely with Laser’s more mature voice, especially in the roles she portrayed. It gave the audiobook some added depth, along with Santana handling the male vocals.
The pacing was great, and I was easily able to speed it up without losing any of the inflection or nuance, thanks to the expert sound mastering from the production team.
This book will be a hit with readers who are fans of Holly Jackson, Danielle Valentine, Chelsea Ichaso, and others who enjoy teen detectives paired with a male partner, especially when there’s a little genre-bending between thriller and romance.
For the YA audience, this is a well-written and engaging mystery/thriller that I think teens will be able to identify with. It’s an easy read with some enjoyable characters and a mystery that kept things moving. I definitely recommend the audiobook because the narration and production gave the story that extra oomph that helped tie everything together.
This cover totally sucked me in while I was looking for an audiobook ALC, and I am so glad it did because this was a pleasant surprise. I am thankful for the complimentary copy from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, as they always deliver a top-notch production.
The audiobook was narrated by André Santana, Helen Laser, and Mehr Dudeja, who all did a stellar job. I’m a fan of Laser and have read a lot of her recent books, so I quickly learned that she wasn’t the main female narrator for this book. And you know what? That was perfectly fine! I loved Dudeja’s more youthful vocals for the FMC, which balanced nicely with Laser’s more mature voice, especially in the roles she portrayed. It gave the audiobook some added depth, along with Santana handling the male vocals.
The pacing was great, and I was easily able to speed it up without losing any of the inflection or nuance, thanks to the expert sound mastering from the production team.
This book will be a hit with readers who are fans of Holly Jackson, Danielle Valentine, Chelsea Ichaso, and others who enjoy teen detectives paired with a male partner, especially when there’s a little genre-bending between thriller and romance.
For the YA audience, this is a well-written and engaging mystery/thriller that I think teens will be able to identify with. It’s an easy read with some enjoyable characters and a mystery that kept things moving. I definitely recommend the audiobook because the narration and production gave the story that extra oomph that helped tie everything together.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an entertaining mystery read!
One of my favorite elements was how the mystery jumps between the past and present. The dual timeline really gave a full perspective as to what was going on, slowly revealing how Abigail’s disappearance ties into what’s happening to Rose. It was really fun trying to piece the clues together as I was reading!
The mystery plot was really intriguing! While I did guess a few of the twists, there were enough to make me second guess myself, which I enjoyed. There were also some plot conveniences, and the pacing slowed a bit in the middle. But I still had fun reading.
The setting was also great. Rust Belt is a small town filled with lies, secrets, betrayals, and residents who know more than they are willing to say. It was so compelling to try and work out what was going on with them.
Rose was a great protagonist to follow. She was easy to root for, and her dynamic with Jake—her unlikely partner in all of this—was fun to watch unfold. Their romance unfortunately wasn’t as compelling as I was hoping, and I wish they had more chemistry between them, but I liked seeing them work together.
I think fans of YA thrillers that features murder mysteries, small-town secrets, and teenage drama will enjoy this read!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for allowing me to read the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Going into this book, I did not know what to expect. A few pages in, and Trish Lundy had me!
In the early stages, we had the very heights of teen drama, which was then twisted into a heartbreaking murder and survival story, with so many pieces that did not add up. And like Rose, the main character, I wanted answers.
Less than 48 hours after I had them. This story reads fluidly. No weird plot deviations, none of the unnecessary emotions that usually pop up in young adult books. Just accessible writing and a flow that hooked me and made sense.
Additionally, I had no clue who the real villain was until the author was ready for me to find out. I loved that! It kept me engaged.
Our, fmc, Rose, is stubborn, but you understand why she is like that. Her life has had too much pain. She chose in the story not to be sidelined or railroaded. Instead, she pushed through to find the truth, not only for herself but also for the people she cared about most.
The way the supporting cast worked with her and against was enjoyable to read as well. One minute you were kind of sure who was who, next chapter? Back into disbelief and mistrust.
Even at the end, when you think, okay the murderers are revealed, their motives shown, great ending. The author delivered a last shock I am still thinking about.
So, if you are looking for teen drama, an elusive murder mystery with a superb ending, congratulations, you have found it.
Add this one to your TBR and know that you are in for a good time.
In the early stages, we had the very heights of teen drama, which was then twisted into a heartbreaking murder and survival story, with so many pieces that did not add up. And like Rose, the main character, I wanted answers.
Less than 48 hours after I had them. This story reads fluidly. No weird plot deviations, none of the unnecessary emotions that usually pop up in young adult books. Just accessible writing and a flow that hooked me and made sense.
Additionally, I had no clue who the real villain was until the author was ready for me to find out. I loved that! It kept me engaged.
Our, fmc, Rose, is stubborn, but you understand why she is like that. Her life has had too much pain. She chose in the story not to be sidelined or railroaded. Instead, she pushed through to find the truth, not only for herself but also for the people she cared about most.
The way the supporting cast worked with her and against was enjoyable to read as well. One minute you were kind of sure who was who, next chapter? Back into disbelief and mistrust.
Even at the end, when you think, okay the murderers are revealed, their motives shown, great ending. The author delivered a last shock I am still thinking about.
So, if you are looking for teen drama, an elusive murder mystery with a superb ending, congratulations, you have found it.
Add this one to your TBR and know that you are in for a good time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I need to admit something, I really enjoyed this book while I was reading it and then almost completely forgot I read it.
Which is strange, because the reason behind who is targeting these girls turns out to be genuinely twisted.
🔥 Reasons to Read If You Love
🎓 Graduation Night Gone Wrong
⏳ Past and Present Timelines
🕵️ Small Town Secrets
🧠 Micro Synopsis
When two best friends are attacked on graduation night, only Rose survives, and she teams up with Jake, the guy who found her, to figure out who is targeting girls in their small Rust Belt town. When she learns the exact same thing happened fifteen years earlier, she starts to wonder if the same killer is back or if someone is copying them.
To be honest, I had a good time reading this while it was happening, and then it kind of faded from memory afterward.
We follow Rose in the present, a past timeline, and someone connected to the original disappearance.
Once you finally get to the reason behind everything, it is genuinely twisted.
There were parts of this book I really liked and parts I felt just okay about.
My main issue is that I wanted to connect more with the story and the characters, and I just did not fully get there.
That disconnect kept it from hitting harder for me personally.
There is absolutely a reader out there for this book.
It is just not one that fully resonated with me specifically.
If you love small town thrillers with dual timelines, this is worth checking out.
Just know going in that your mileage may vary depending on how much you connect with the characters.
Original killer or copycat 👀
Which is strange, because the reason behind who is targeting these girls turns out to be genuinely twisted.
🔥 Reasons to Read If You Love
🎓 Graduation Night Gone Wrong
⏳ Past and Present Timelines
🕵️ Small Town Secrets
🧠 Micro Synopsis
When two best friends are attacked on graduation night, only Rose survives, and she teams up with Jake, the guy who found her, to figure out who is targeting girls in their small Rust Belt town. When she learns the exact same thing happened fifteen years earlier, she starts to wonder if the same killer is back or if someone is copying them.
To be honest, I had a good time reading this while it was happening, and then it kind of faded from memory afterward.
We follow Rose in the present, a past timeline, and someone connected to the original disappearance.
Once you finally get to the reason behind everything, it is genuinely twisted.
There were parts of this book I really liked and parts I felt just okay about.
My main issue is that I wanted to connect more with the story and the characters, and I just did not fully get there.
That disconnect kept it from hitting harder for me personally.
There is absolutely a reader out there for this book.
It is just not one that fully resonated with me specifically.
If you love small town thrillers with dual timelines, this is worth checking out.
Just know going in that your mileage may vary depending on how much you connect with the characters.
Original killer or copycat 👀
Read
September 29, 2026The Worst Is Yet to Come is a twisty, edge-of-your-seat YA mystery that kept me guessing (and checking that my doors were locked).
The setup alone grabbed me. Graduation night, two best friends, and only one makes it out alive? Brutal. Rose is such a determined main character. She's hurting, she's scared, and she still refuses to let anyone forget her best friend. Her drive to find the truth kept me flipping pages way past my bedtime.
Jake is a fun surprise, too. The former quarterback and heartthrob who finds her on the side of the road could've been a cliché, but he ends up being an ally you actually want to root for. The slow-burn "maybe something more" vibe was a nice break from all the tension without taking over the mystery.
I loved the double-mystery angle. A girl suffered the exact same fate in the exact same place seventeen years ago, so is it the same killer or a copycat? I was making theories left and right, and the small-town secrets made everything feel extra creepy. If you're a fan of Holly Jackson or Karen M. McManus, you'll feel right at home here.
Why not 5 stars? A couple of moments felt a bit predictable, and I wanted a little more time with some of the side characters. But it's a small complaint for a mystery this gripping.
If you want a fast, tense read with a side of small-town secrets, grab this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The setup alone grabbed me. Graduation night, two best friends, and only one makes it out alive? Brutal. Rose is such a determined main character. She's hurting, she's scared, and she still refuses to let anyone forget her best friend. Her drive to find the truth kept me flipping pages way past my bedtime.
Jake is a fun surprise, too. The former quarterback and heartthrob who finds her on the side of the road could've been a cliché, but he ends up being an ally you actually want to root for. The slow-burn "maybe something more" vibe was a nice break from all the tension without taking over the mystery.
I loved the double-mystery angle. A girl suffered the exact same fate in the exact same place seventeen years ago, so is it the same killer or a copycat? I was making theories left and right, and the small-town secrets made everything feel extra creepy. If you're a fan of Holly Jackson or Karen M. McManus, you'll feel right at home here.
Why not 5 stars? A couple of moments felt a bit predictable, and I wanted a little more time with some of the side characters. But it's a small complaint for a mystery this gripping.
If you want a fast, tense read with a side of small-town secrets, grab this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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