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What Happened to Those Girls
Pretty Little Liars meets The Blair Witch Project in this harrowing thriller from the author of Murder Land, brimming with betrayal, unsettling town secrets, and a killer lurking in the woods.
Emma knows her friends all lie to her. And everyone knows Emma is the outcast of their group. She's usually fine with that, until her friends go on a camping trip that she planned...without her. The next morning, she wakes up to the news that all three of them died at the campsite.
When Emma starts receiving unnerving videos of the girls the night they died from an anonymous source, it becomes clear their deaths weren't an accident. And if this becomes a murder case, Emma will be suspect number one. Because while everyone knows she had been excluded from the plans, what they don't know is that she went to the campsite that night after all, and someone has proof.
Emma teams up with Beck, one of the victims' sisters, to return to the woods and figure out what really happened the night her friends died, uncover who is behind the mysterious videos she is receiving, and make sure that nobody can pin their murders on her. But stranded in an eerie town that doesn't welcome outsiders with a murderer on their heels, Emma and Beck just might be next…
Emma knows her friends all lie to her. And everyone knows Emma is the outcast of their group. She's usually fine with that, until her friends go on a camping trip that she planned...without her. The next morning, she wakes up to the news that all three of them died at the campsite.
When Emma starts receiving unnerving videos of the girls the night they died from an anonymous source, it becomes clear their deaths weren't an accident. And if this becomes a murder case, Emma will be suspect number one. Because while everyone knows she had been excluded from the plans, what they don't know is that she went to the campsite that night after all, and someone has proof.
Emma teams up with Beck, one of the victims' sisters, to return to the woods and figure out what really happened the night her friends died, uncover who is behind the mysterious videos she is receiving, and make sure that nobody can pin their murders on her. But stranded in an eerie town that doesn't welcome outsiders with a murderer on their heels, Emma and Beck just might be next…
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
July 2, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the pre-release copy of What Happened to Those Girls by Carlyn Greenwald. Below is my honest review.
This one was a wild ride! From the moment the main character got the text message about how they're all going to die out there that then was unsent to the very end, it was explosive. I couldn't put it down!
It was a well-plotted and twisty mystery thriller, and I was very impressed with the author's ability to give depth to even the characters that weren't alive any more.
Highly entertaining, will read more by Greenwald.
Four stars, definitely recommend to mystery-thriller fans and YA readers who like a dark gruesome murder mystery.
This one was a wild ride! From the moment the main character got the text message about how they're all going to die out there that then was unsent to the very end, it was explosive. I couldn't put it down!
It was a well-plotted and twisty mystery thriller, and I was very impressed with the author's ability to give depth to even the characters that weren't alive any more.
Highly entertaining, will read more by Greenwald.
Four stars, definitely recommend to mystery-thriller fans and YA readers who like a dark gruesome murder mystery.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i like my mysteries fast paced enough to keep me entertained, but not too fast to make me feel like some aspects are getting glossed over. it's a tough balance to find, and unfortunately i don't think that what happened to those girls fully succeeded in doing so.
the characters are fine. emma is a compelling protagonist and you want to see her succeed, even if you're questioning her intentions like beck does: does she want to find out the truth about what happened to her friends because they were her friends or is it because she wants to clear her name? is it both? even though the book is written in first person, there's still a seed being planted that makes you doubt what's going on, and i quite enjoyed that. i did, however, wrinkle my nose at the friendships themselves, as the girls were terrible friends to emma (even opal through inaction), but that just made it all more tragic. you're told from the start that these girls aren't great to her, and maybe that ended up saving her life after all.
the pacing of the mystery itself was entertaining, and it's an easy book to breeze through. unfortunately, some supposedly big things ended up feeling inconsequential or didn't get enough foreshadowing, so it was hard to care about them.
another thing i liked was the constant doubt about there being something supernatural involved in the mystery. it's often not done well, but i think it worked out quite nicely in this one.
overall, if you're looking for a fast-paced, enthralling mystery featuring queer characters, this will be a good read for you.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
the characters are fine. emma is a compelling protagonist and you want to see her succeed, even if you're questioning her intentions like beck does: does she want to find out the truth about what happened to her friends because they were her friends or is it because she wants to clear her name? is it both? even though the book is written in first person, there's still a seed being planted that makes you doubt what's going on, and i quite enjoyed that. i did, however, wrinkle my nose at the friendships themselves, as the girls were terrible friends to emma (even opal through inaction), but that just made it all more tragic. you're told from the start that these girls aren't great to her, and maybe that ended up saving her life after all.
the pacing of the mystery itself was entertaining, and it's an easy book to breeze through. unfortunately, some supposedly big things ended up feeling inconsequential or didn't get enough foreshadowing, so it was hard to care about them.
another thing i liked was the constant doubt about there being something supernatural involved in the mystery. it's often not done well, but i think it worked out quite nicely in this one.
overall, if you're looking for a fast-paced, enthralling mystery featuring queer characters, this will be a good read for you.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
September 22, 2025
Hi everyone and welcome to my sophomore YA thriller, WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE GIRLS. WHTTG sits on the intersection of mystery/thriller with some horror elements, inspired by me asking myself the question "would I have survived a slasher in high school?" and the answer being "I wouldn't have been invited to the party where the slasher took place." This book contains:
- A bisexual, Jewish, autistic (undiagnosed, but has a feeling she is) main character. She has the kind of neurodivergence I have, which manifests as special interests primarily forming around media in a "fangirl"ish way. I've never seen a character quite like the teen (and adult) I was, so I hope Emma helps folks feel seen. :)
- A weird small mountain town in Southern California that's convinced that a witch protects their town from wildfires (and that witch needs sacrifices). Very folklore/urban legend-y and the main aspect inspired by Blair Witch.
- Interstitial chapters that depict videos that take place on the night of the murders. They're the most "horror" I've written and I love them.
- A fair amount of body horror and gore. (think: teeth, fingernails, severed ears, that kind of thing). It's definitely more intense than Murder Land
- A trauma-bonded sapphic romance subplot
- A one-eyed cat named Aemond (who stays thriving the whole book)
As for TWs, this book contains the following:
Murder (on the page), attempted murder, blood and gore, bullying, sibling abuse (verbal/emotional and physical), stalking, gun usage, grief, panic attacks, internalized homophobia and ableism, discussion of disordered eating, self destruction via substance abuse and reckless behavior, mentioned (non-lethal) car crash, vomiting.
No animals are harmed in this book. People are. There is no spice because this is YA.
Hope everyone enjoys!
- A bisexual, Jewish, autistic (undiagnosed, but has a feeling she is) main character. She has the kind of neurodivergence I have, which manifests as special interests primarily forming around media in a "fangirl"ish way. I've never seen a character quite like the teen (and adult) I was, so I hope Emma helps folks feel seen. :)
- A weird small mountain town in Southern California that's convinced that a witch protects their town from wildfires (and that witch needs sacrifices). Very folklore/urban legend-y and the main aspect inspired by Blair Witch.
- Interstitial chapters that depict videos that take place on the night of the murders. They're the most "horror" I've written and I love them.
- A fair amount of body horror and gore. (think: teeth, fingernails, severed ears, that kind of thing). It's definitely more intense than Murder Land
- A trauma-bonded sapphic romance subplot
- A one-eyed cat named Aemond (who stays thriving the whole book)
As for TWs, this book contains the following:
Murder (on the page), attempted murder, blood and gore, bullying, sibling abuse (verbal/emotional and physical), stalking, gun usage, grief, panic attacks, internalized homophobia and ableism, discussion of disordered eating, self destruction via substance abuse and reckless behavior, mentioned (non-lethal) car crash, vomiting.
No animals are harmed in this book. People are. There is no spice because this is YA.
Hope everyone enjoys!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emma’s anger turns to shock when her friends, who have ditched her to go on a camping trip without her, all end up dead. The book is written in Emma’s POV, with a few flashbacks to her friends from their trip in the woods. Emma and Beck, one of the victim’s sisters, must solve the mystery while trying to stay alive themselves.
This was a great mystery and suspense story with a supernatural feel. There were some sections that felt a bit slow, but once the book ramped up, I couldn’t put it down!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was a great mystery and suspense story with a supernatural feel. There were some sections that felt a bit slow, but once the book ramped up, I couldn’t put it down!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 5, 2026
I found Emma surprisingly relatable from the start.
Emma is eccentric, a little awkward, and a big Winona Ryder movie fangirl, with references to Beetlejuice, Heathers, and Girl, Interrupted woven in. She’s the black sheep of her friend group, and unfortunately she knows it.
When the weekly sleepover gets cancelled, Emma is devastated to learn that not only have her friends lied to her, but they’ve gone on the camping trip that SHE planned — without her!
What Happened to Those Girls is a YA thriller involving a camping trip that ends in tragedy, a ghost town in the mountains, and friends who don’t make it back alive.
It has slasher vibes, creepy woods, weird townsfolk, a witch legend, and nonstop tension.
I couldn’t put it down.
Emma is eccentric, a little awkward, and a big Winona Ryder movie fangirl, with references to Beetlejuice, Heathers, and Girl, Interrupted woven in. She’s the black sheep of her friend group, and unfortunately she knows it.
When the weekly sleepover gets cancelled, Emma is devastated to learn that not only have her friends lied to her, but they’ve gone on the camping trip that SHE planned — without her!
What Happened to Those Girls is a YA thriller involving a camping trip that ends in tragedy, a ghost town in the mountains, and friends who don’t make it back alive.
It has slasher vibes, creepy woods, weird townsfolk, a witch legend, and nonstop tension.
I couldn’t put it down.
June 1, 2026
WAITTT. I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS TO BE THIS GOOD! This ended up being one of the best YA thrillers I’ve read in a good bit! I was a bit hesitant because while that synopsis sounds insanely interesting, I couldn’t get into Murderland and it ended up being a dnf, but I knew from the first chapter that this was going to be one that I was going to like. Also, while this is technically a thriller, this is more horror leaning than most thrillers are. This gets bizarre SO FAST that I truly could not begin to guess how this book was going to end or what the explanation for anything was, until we were well over halfway. This book has LAYERS and oh my gosh I could not stop kicking my feet because the mystery was SO GOOD. Conspiracies, a whole town that’s keeping secrets, and a potential witch?
Emma’s dynamic with her friend group does feel a bit unconventional to begin with, as you get the vibe that Emma (who literally works at a horror museum) is the odd one out in the friend group. But opposites attract with friendships all the time so it isn’t necessarily out of the ordinary. Yet, the other girls zip off and go on this haunted camping trip (that she planned!) without her, for no apparent reason. When Emma calls them out over text that evening, she gets a response saying that she “did her a favor because they’re all going to die out there”. Even though it’s late in the evening, Emma spontaneously drives hours away to this sparsely populated town to go to the campground and confront them, and what happens there is…..strange. That’s when this book really starts to verge into horror territory. Emma drives home that evening none the wiser, despite all the strange happenings that evening, and lo and behold, all 3 of her friends are reported dead the next morning.
I couldn’t wait to get to the end because I desperately needed answers, and my impatient ass was resisting skipping to the end because I HAD TO KNOW. And why is it that every local in that town runs off as soon as there is any mention of a witch? I truly couldn’t even begin to guess where this was going and I’m usually pretty good at guessing.
Sure, some parts are too convenient, like the fact that this whole entire town happens to have basically no service, or the fact that their parents just let two teenagers go on a remote getaway on their own just 8 months after their friends died from a remote getaway traveling on their own, and that the cops are completely incompetent like they’re straight out of scooby doo. Emphasis on the last one. But, I mean, it’s a YA thriller, and all of them are like this to some degree.
This was so close to a 5 star, but it feels more like a 4. The middle does have a bit of a lag. It’s close, but doesn’t quite feel like a perfect 5 star. But, the end is so twisty and just when you think you’ve got the reveal, more twists unravel! This book really gets under your skin and is a stand out read in this genre. Murder mystery lovers cannot skip this one!
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Emma’s dynamic with her friend group does feel a bit unconventional to begin with, as you get the vibe that Emma (who literally works at a horror museum) is the odd one out in the friend group. But opposites attract with friendships all the time so it isn’t necessarily out of the ordinary. Yet, the other girls zip off and go on this haunted camping trip (that she planned!) without her, for no apparent reason. When Emma calls them out over text that evening, she gets a response saying that she “did her a favor because they’re all going to die out there”. Even though it’s late in the evening, Emma spontaneously drives hours away to this sparsely populated town to go to the campground and confront them, and what happens there is…..strange. That’s when this book really starts to verge into horror territory. Emma drives home that evening none the wiser, despite all the strange happenings that evening, and lo and behold, all 3 of her friends are reported dead the next morning.
I couldn’t wait to get to the end because I desperately needed answers, and my impatient ass was resisting skipping to the end because I HAD TO KNOW. And why is it that every local in that town runs off as soon as there is any mention of a witch? I truly couldn’t even begin to guess where this was going and I’m usually pretty good at guessing.
Sure, some parts are too convenient, like the fact that this whole entire town happens to have basically no service, or the fact that their parents just let two teenagers go on a remote getaway on their own just 8 months after their friends died from a remote getaway traveling on their own, and that the cops are completely incompetent like they’re straight out of scooby doo. Emphasis on the last one. But, I mean, it’s a YA thriller, and all of them are like this to some degree.
This was so close to a 5 star, but it feels more like a 4. The middle does have a bit of a lag. It’s close, but doesn’t quite feel like a perfect 5 star. But, the end is so twisty and just when you think you’ve got the reveal, more twists unravel! This book really gets under your skin and is a stand out read in this genre. Murder mystery lovers cannot skip this one!
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
February 24, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book!
Emma is part of a friend group, but actually, she's more of an outsider. She's usually fine with that, until her friends decide to go on a camping trip she originally planned. Emma is not included on the trip. When she wakes up the next morning, she finds out that her three friends are dead. Emma starts to get messages and videos of the girls from an anonymous person. Emma now believes it wasn't an accident, but it was a murder. She needs to prove it. To do so, she asks one of the victims sisters, Beck, to help find evidence at the campsite. The campsite where a witch would live and kill people....
This young adult thriller is definitely a must read for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Holly Jackson. It fits exactly those vibes. The story starts off more slowly, but once we get on the campsite with Emma and Beck, the events starts to get really thrilling. The author has done a great job by building up the story and thereby creating a portion of tension.
Emma is not a very likable character, but I felt really sorry for what happened to her. I actually love that she's morally grey and not the perfect main character, she also has her flaws. Bonuspoints for the diversity because Emma thinks she has autisme, but doesn't have the diagnosis yet. You can definitely see her struggling with that throughout the book. In my opinion, the representation was okay, but I'm not the right person to judge that.
The plot twist... Oh my god. What was that?! I was completely shocked by the reveals. I absolutely did not see that coming. At all. So if you're looking for a YA thriller with a very good plot twist, this is your book! I honestly thought I would be getting some regular plot twists that are known in a lot of YA thrillers, but the author did an outstanding job on this.
I highly recommend this book. I don't have anything negative to say about this book, I had to finish this in one day, I couldn't stop reading. Five stars!
Emma is part of a friend group, but actually, she's more of an outsider. She's usually fine with that, until her friends decide to go on a camping trip she originally planned. Emma is not included on the trip. When she wakes up the next morning, she finds out that her three friends are dead. Emma starts to get messages and videos of the girls from an anonymous person. Emma now believes it wasn't an accident, but it was a murder. She needs to prove it. To do so, she asks one of the victims sisters, Beck, to help find evidence at the campsite. The campsite where a witch would live and kill people....
This young adult thriller is definitely a must read for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Holly Jackson. It fits exactly those vibes. The story starts off more slowly, but once we get on the campsite with Emma and Beck, the events starts to get really thrilling. The author has done a great job by building up the story and thereby creating a portion of tension.
Emma is not a very likable character, but I felt really sorry for what happened to her. I actually love that she's morally grey and not the perfect main character, she also has her flaws. Bonuspoints for the diversity because Emma thinks she has autisme, but doesn't have the diagnosis yet. You can definitely see her struggling with that throughout the book. In my opinion, the representation was okay, but I'm not the right person to judge that.
The plot twist... Oh my god. What was that?! I was completely shocked by the reveals. I absolutely did not see that coming. At all. So if you're looking for a YA thriller with a very good plot twist, this is your book! I honestly thought I would be getting some regular plot twists that are known in a lot of YA thrillers, but the author did an outstanding job on this.
I highly recommend this book. I don't have anything negative to say about this book, I had to finish this in one day, I couldn't stop reading. Five stars!
June 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!
This book sounded like something that would be perfectly in my reading sphere. I love survival YA, especially when combined with mysteries. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite land. The plot twists were really predicatable. I knew the major story arc very early on, and that was definitely a bummer. I also really didn't like Emma. I get that she's ~different~ and struggling, but she was also so frustrating and annoying. The whole story centers around her feeling betrayed when her friends go on a camping trip without her, and that betrayal takes full center stage. It honestly never really felt like she cared that any of her "friends" died horrific deaths in the woods. The dialogue at points is absolutely bizzare. I work with kids, and I cannot image any of them saying "the guys collected us" or referring to a friend group as "Paisley and co." There's a lot of major plot points that don't add up at the end, as well. I've had Murderland on my TBR for a while now, and reading this hasn't compelled me to move it up any further.
This book sounded like something that would be perfectly in my reading sphere. I love survival YA, especially when combined with mysteries. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite land. The plot twists were really predicatable. I knew the major story arc very early on, and that was definitely a bummer. I also really didn't like Emma. I get that she's ~different~ and struggling, but she was also so frustrating and annoying. The whole story centers around her feeling betrayed when her friends go on a camping trip without her, and that betrayal takes full center stage. It honestly never really felt like she cared that any of her "friends" died horrific deaths in the woods. The dialogue at points is absolutely bizzare. I work with kids, and I cannot image any of them saying "the guys collected us" or referring to a friend group as "Paisley and co." There's a lot of major plot points that don't add up at the end, as well. I've had Murderland on my TBR for a while now, and reading this hasn't compelled me to move it up any further.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC REVIEW
Rating:- ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes:-
🩸Witchcraft
🔪 Girls' love
🩸Friend's sister
I would like to begin this review by saying WHAT THE HECK??? This book was CRAZY. Like, awesome and crazy.
It's one thing to lead the readers to suspect an innocent person, but this author just played with my thoughts.
In the beginning, this book just feels like another 'high school drama' kind of book, but then you will uncover the secrets and past mysteries. The first 70% of the book seemed almost normal, but then you get to the last 30% and so many things happened all at once. I couldn't keep track of all the events of the book.
I love how the author gave all the smallest details like Emma on the verge of a panic attack, the gore details about the condition of the bodies (which I haven't really read in many thriller books) and their murders (I still can't get those horrible images out of my head), Emma's personality and Beck's personality. I honestly feel very connected to Emma because I've noticed that we are kind of similar.
This book kind of reminds me of the movie 'Fear Street' because of all the witchcraft and the rituals and because of this, I totally loved the book. However, I was NOT ready for what happened at the end of the book. Nothing could have prepared me for it. I honestly want to say so many things about the book but I can't say much without spoiling it, but I have one word to describe this book- supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (extraordinarily good).
Ps:- I also love how the last part of the book takes place on June 29th and the book comes out on June 30th.
Rating:- ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes:-
🩸Witchcraft
🔪 Girls' love
🩸Friend's sister
I would like to begin this review by saying WHAT THE HECK??? This book was CRAZY. Like, awesome and crazy.
It's one thing to lead the readers to suspect an innocent person, but this author just played with my thoughts.
In the beginning, this book just feels like another 'high school drama' kind of book, but then you will uncover the secrets and past mysteries. The first 70% of the book seemed almost normal, but then you get to the last 30% and so many things happened all at once. I couldn't keep track of all the events of the book.
I love how the author gave all the smallest details like Emma on the verge of a panic attack, the gore details about the condition of the bodies (which I haven't really read in many thriller books) and their murders (I still can't get those horrible images out of my head), Emma's personality and Beck's personality. I honestly feel very connected to Emma because I've noticed that we are kind of similar.
This book kind of reminds me of the movie 'Fear Street' because of all the witchcraft and the rituals and because of this, I totally loved the book. However, I was NOT ready for what happened at the end of the book. Nothing could have prepared me for it. I honestly want to say so many things about the book but I can't say much without spoiling it, but I have one word to describe this book- supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (extraordinarily good).
Ps:- I also love how the last part of the book takes place on June 29th and the book comes out on June 30th.
July 27, 2026
3.5⭐️
This was a solid YA mystery/thriller. There were twists that I didn't see coming. Throughout the book, my thoughts kept changing as to what happened and who was responsible. At times, the characters did things I thought were a bit ridiculous. However, I had to remember they were young and dealing with conflicting emotions surrounding grief and betrayal. There were also a couple of plot points I didn't quite understand but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC.
This was a solid YA mystery/thriller. There were twists that I didn't see coming. Throughout the book, my thoughts kept changing as to what happened and who was responsible. At times, the characters did things I thought were a bit ridiculous. However, I had to remember they were young and dealing with conflicting emotions surrounding grief and betrayal. There were also a couple of plot points I didn't quite understand but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC.
July 1, 2026
This was a great twisty YA thriller read, with a touch of horror! 🙌
I absolutely loved the creepy, witchy vibes, which had me hooked! I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this one after having mixed feelings on the author’s previous book, but I was honestly pleasantly surprised! If you enjoy YA thrillers, definitely check this one out! 👏
Thank you partner Sourcebooks Fire for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
I absolutely loved the creepy, witchy vibes, which had me hooked! I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this one after having mixed feelings on the author’s previous book, but I was honestly pleasantly surprised! If you enjoy YA thrillers, definitely check this one out! 👏
Thank you partner Sourcebooks Fire for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
July 29, 2026
I enjoyed this! The ending was good and I was invested start to finish. This is very fast paced and I read it in one sitting. This is a good thriller I would recommend! Special Thank You to Carlyn Greenwald, Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2026
literally read it in one day
July 27, 2026
Eh. It was okay, pretty boring if I’m being honest.
July 13, 2026
This book annoyed tf out of me. 😠👎🏼
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love PLL, so I thought I would love this book... that was not the case.
Firstly, I couldn't stand Emma, the main character. Once it's found out that her friends went on the camping trip without her, she I assumed that this would actually matter but Beck, the one person she admits it to, couldn't care less. The story keeps going on about how Paisley and the others were awful, but we never get to see Emma reflect on the stuff she did. It is mentioned that, if Paisley had lived, she may have had the chance to change but
It also disappointed me that, in the end, Emma's friends were the 'bad ones' and Emma was the 'good one'. Her friends never cared about her and she never really cared about them either, I guess.
As for the writing in general: it felt off, especially the dialogue. A common complaint with fanfiction is that authors have a tendency to use therapy speak, which I felt was the case here. While it made some sense for Emma's mom to talk like that, the way Emma herself spoke didn't sound teenager-ish in the slightest.
Firstly, I couldn't stand Emma, the main character. Once it's found out that her friends went on the camping trip without her, she I assumed that this would actually matter but Beck, the one person she admits it to, couldn't care less. The story keeps going on about how Paisley and the others were awful, but we never get to see Emma reflect on the stuff she did. It is mentioned that, if Paisley had lived, she may have had the chance to change but
It also disappointed me that, in the end, Emma's friends were the 'bad ones' and Emma was the 'good one'. Her friends never cared about her and she never really cared about them either, I guess.
As for the writing in general: it felt off, especially the dialogue. A common complaint with fanfiction is that authors have a tendency to use therapy speak, which I felt was the case here. While it made some sense for Emma's mom to talk like that, the way Emma herself spoke didn't sound teenager-ish in the slightest.
July 1, 2026
This YA thriller/horror takes place in the woods when a camping trip among a group of teenagers ends with their death. One of the girls meant to go on the trip is excluded, and when she goes to confront them on the night of, she slashes their tires and leaves a threatening voicemail. When she notices she’s being watched, she flees the scene in a hurry. The next morning, she wakes to the news that they are all dead. Some time has passed, and she gets a text message from someone anonymous with footage from the night from one of the girl’s cellphone, luring her back to the campsite with the sister of one of the victims. Both are there to figure out the mystery of what happened, to get ahold of that message, delete the incriminating voicemail, and to see if the lore of the witch that haunts that area is true.
This book has a little of everything for beginner horror fans, those who love suspense, and the mystery surrounding this town with locals who don’t like to talk about what happened to the girls and the “paranormal” happenings from the witch, especially with outsiders. The town seems to be full of secrets. This has the same feelings you get when you watch a slasher movie, and you’re yelling at your TV when the victims are doing everything wrong and running towards danger. You have your final girl, who you wonder how they even survived the night. There’s gross body horror that is found near the campsite, not located by local police, which adds to the creepiness of the forest. This is a fast paced book is full of dread and mystery, that just happens to release in the perfect time of the year to read it. I did figure out one thing, but the other I was not expecting at all. In fact, there were two twists I didn’t see.
If you’re looking for a YA slasher film type of book with a camp setting, this is your book.
This book has a little of everything for beginner horror fans, those who love suspense, and the mystery surrounding this town with locals who don’t like to talk about what happened to the girls and the “paranormal” happenings from the witch, especially with outsiders. The town seems to be full of secrets. This has the same feelings you get when you watch a slasher movie, and you’re yelling at your TV when the victims are doing everything wrong and running towards danger. You have your final girl, who you wonder how they even survived the night. There’s gross body horror that is found near the campsite, not located by local police, which adds to the creepiness of the forest. This is a fast paced book is full of dread and mystery, that just happens to release in the perfect time of the year to read it. I did figure out one thing, but the other I was not expecting at all. In fact, there were two twists I didn’t see.
If you’re looking for a YA slasher film type of book with a camp setting, this is your book.
April 17, 2026
4.25 ⭐ ARC Review - Spooky vibes, sapphic romance, and lots of neurodivergence representation in this high school murder mystery thriller!
⛺️ For Fans of:
- young adult thriller horror
- murder mystery thriller
- supernatural ambiguity
- high schoolers
- friends go missing
- amateur detectives
- crimes at national parks
- sapphic yearning
- autism FMC rep
- anxiety FMC rep
- bisexual rep
✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
Emma’s three friends are found dead after they go on a camping trip that they didn’t even invite her to. To find out what happens, and clear herself of being a suspect, she teams up with Beck, her friend’s sister, to find out what happens.
From the beginning, you immediately fall in line with the main character’s intense emotions. It’s easy to connect with Emma, as nearly everyone knows the feeling of being left out and the betrayal and anger that comes along with it. But there’s also the fear that creeps in and builds as the creepy evidence mounts.
The supernatural ambiguity reminded me a lot of Riley Sager where you’re not sure if it’s a ghost/demon or a real killer, and a storyline in which aren’t sure which is scarier.
I absolutely loved how the two girls, the friend and the sister, are forced together, become friends, a lowkey romance blooming, and that they ultimately share in the truths and emotions of guilt and grief that come with death.
This book was a wild ride of grief, shock, creepy vibes, neurodivergent struggles, and lots of healing.
🖤 This is a review of an advanced reader copy (ARC). As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: What Happened to Those Girls
📅 Release Date: June 30, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4.25 out of 5
⛺️ For Fans of:
- young adult thriller horror
- murder mystery thriller
- supernatural ambiguity
- high schoolers
- friends go missing
- amateur detectives
- crimes at national parks
- sapphic yearning
- autism FMC rep
- anxiety FMC rep
- bisexual rep
✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
Emma’s three friends are found dead after they go on a camping trip that they didn’t even invite her to. To find out what happens, and clear herself of being a suspect, she teams up with Beck, her friend’s sister, to find out what happens.
From the beginning, you immediately fall in line with the main character’s intense emotions. It’s easy to connect with Emma, as nearly everyone knows the feeling of being left out and the betrayal and anger that comes along with it. But there’s also the fear that creeps in and builds as the creepy evidence mounts.
The supernatural ambiguity reminded me a lot of Riley Sager where you’re not sure if it’s a ghost/demon or a real killer, and a storyline in which aren’t sure which is scarier.
I absolutely loved how the two girls, the friend and the sister, are forced together, become friends, a lowkey romance blooming, and that they ultimately share in the truths and emotions of guilt and grief that come with death.
This book was a wild ride of grief, shock, creepy vibes, neurodivergent struggles, and lots of healing.
🖤 This is a review of an advanced reader copy (ARC). As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: What Happened to Those Girls
📅 Release Date: June 30, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4.25 out of 5
March 22, 2026
Thanks kindly to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC 👻🧙🏼♀️
I’ve yet to read a Sourcebooks Fire book that doesn’t hit! This book follows a group of teen girls who all best friends who don’t realllly like each other (almost a hatred, we’ve all been there) and decide to spend a night in the woods much to the chagrin of our main character, Emma, who is left out of the adventure. Things take a turn for the worst when all our woodsy adventurers die 🫢🤫 was it a witch? A murderer? Or a small town conspiracy?
Overall, this book was good and completed what it set out to do. There were minimal pacing issues yet I found there were some story issues. A LOT was happening, including characters being introduced as seemingly important and then forgotten, I think I misunderstood certain characters (particularly the one starting with V) and their purpose to the story other than a catalyst to lead us to twist after twist.
A big plus to the book was how realised the two main characters, Emma and Beck, felt. Particularly with Emma’s neurodivergence, I had yet to see someone written on the page who had a lot of similar traits of neurodivergence to myself, which felt special.
Beck was a strong character who never felt like she was making out of character decisions, and displayed the complex sibling dynamics between her and Paisley in a way I have yet to read.
Overall, 3.75 ⭐️💅🏼
I’ve yet to read a Sourcebooks Fire book that doesn’t hit! This book follows a group of teen girls who all best friends who don’t realllly like each other (almost a hatred, we’ve all been there) and decide to spend a night in the woods much to the chagrin of our main character, Emma, who is left out of the adventure. Things take a turn for the worst when all our woodsy adventurers die 🫢🤫 was it a witch? A murderer? Or a small town conspiracy?
Overall, this book was good and completed what it set out to do. There were minimal pacing issues yet I found there were some story issues. A LOT was happening, including characters being introduced as seemingly important and then forgotten, I think I misunderstood certain characters (particularly the one starting with V) and their purpose to the story other than a catalyst to lead us to twist after twist.
A big plus to the book was how realised the two main characters, Emma and Beck, felt. Particularly with Emma’s neurodivergence, I had yet to see someone written on the page who had a lot of similar traits of neurodivergence to myself, which felt special.
Beck was a strong character who never felt like she was making out of character decisions, and displayed the complex sibling dynamics between her and Paisley in a way I have yet to read.
Overall, 3.75 ⭐️💅🏼
May 29, 2026
3.5 overall!
The summary called this Pretty Little Liars meets The Blair Witch Project, which had me so excited to read this book. Add in that it’s camping in the woods during summer with a witch lore, sign me up. This book definitely started out strong and had me hooked wanting to keep turning the page. I loved how the timeline of the book started in the past with what happened and then transitioned into the present with Emma figuring out what happened to her friends.
However, it took a turn for me a little halfway through the book. I felt like things weren’t explained much and were just brushed over. I also guessed two of the twists early on so when they happened it didn’t have much of an impact on me. I also just wanted so much more from the book. With it being described as Pretty Little Liars meets The Blair Witch Project I wanted more of those themes than what was given, which saddened me.
Overall, even though this book ended up falling in the middle for me it was still a fast paced YA thriller and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys toxic friendships, camping in the woods thrillers, and small town lores.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The summary called this Pretty Little Liars meets The Blair Witch Project, which had me so excited to read this book. Add in that it’s camping in the woods during summer with a witch lore, sign me up. This book definitely started out strong and had me hooked wanting to keep turning the page. I loved how the timeline of the book started in the past with what happened and then transitioned into the present with Emma figuring out what happened to her friends.
However, it took a turn for me a little halfway through the book. I felt like things weren’t explained much and were just brushed over. I also guessed two of the twists early on so when they happened it didn’t have much of an impact on me. I also just wanted so much more from the book. With it being described as Pretty Little Liars meets The Blair Witch Project I wanted more of those themes than what was given, which saddened me.
Overall, even though this book ended up falling in the middle for me it was still a fast paced YA thriller and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys toxic friendships, camping in the woods thrillers, and small town lores.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
June 30, 2026
This ended up being way more gruesome than I expected and I really enjoyed that.
Emma has three best friends, only they don't see her the same way. It all comes to a boiling point when the other girls go on a camping trip without her. However before Emma has a chance to confront them, they die. Everyone thinks it was a tragic accident, however Emma has her reasons to think otherwise and joins one of the victim's sisters on a sleuthing adventure to figure out the truth.
My favourite part of this book was how well it keeps the reader on their toes regarding whether or not something supernatural is going on. The ending is pretty predictable but the way we get there is still pretty fun.
I've really enjoyed the relationship between Emma and Beck however because of the time skip between the girls death and the main action of the story, it feels like we miss out on a lot of depth to the characters and their grief.
It's still a fun YA thriller with an engaging mystery.
Emma has three best friends, only they don't see her the same way. It all comes to a boiling point when the other girls go on a camping trip without her. However before Emma has a chance to confront them, they die. Everyone thinks it was a tragic accident, however Emma has her reasons to think otherwise and joins one of the victim's sisters on a sleuthing adventure to figure out the truth.
My favourite part of this book was how well it keeps the reader on their toes regarding whether or not something supernatural is going on. The ending is pretty predictable but the way we get there is still pretty fun.
I've really enjoyed the relationship between Emma and Beck however because of the time skip between the girls death and the main action of the story, it feels like we miss out on a lot of depth to the characters and their grief.
It's still a fun YA thriller with an engaging mystery.
July 2, 2026
3.5 - ARC review
What Happened to Those Girls was definitely a fast paced YA thriller that kept me reading. The vibes were Blair Witch x Pretty Little Liars - two highschool girls trying to solve the murder of three peers/ a sister.
This was interesting enough that I kept wanting to pick up my kindle and read on, but this also wasn’t a five star read for me.
I could’ve used less talk about Winona Ryder and more talk about what was literally happening. So many things felt brushed aside or simply ignored, while key scenes ended abruptly without really delivering the emotional impact they were supposed to.
The characters also fell flat for me. Apart from Beck, and Emma’s obsession with Winona, all of the characters had no real personality. I couldn’t form any connection with them - consequently, I didn’t really care about any of them. I would’ve loved some more world building and getting to know the characters.
What I liked was the eerie atmosphere. I kept wondering if there truly was a witch haunting the woods and the campers. The ending was a surprise, even though I kind of suspected it. I would recommend this if you like YA mysteries, toxic friendships and some queer romance.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC ☀️
What Happened to Those Girls was definitely a fast paced YA thriller that kept me reading. The vibes were Blair Witch x Pretty Little Liars - two highschool girls trying to solve the murder of three peers/ a sister.
This was interesting enough that I kept wanting to pick up my kindle and read on, but this also wasn’t a five star read for me.
I could’ve used less talk about Winona Ryder and more talk about what was literally happening. So many things felt brushed aside or simply ignored, while key scenes ended abruptly without really delivering the emotional impact they were supposed to.
The characters also fell flat for me. Apart from Beck, and Emma’s obsession with Winona, all of the characters had no real personality. I couldn’t form any connection with them - consequently, I didn’t really care about any of them. I would’ve loved some more world building and getting to know the characters.
What I liked was the eerie atmosphere. I kept wondering if there truly was a witch haunting the woods and the campers. The ending was a surprise, even though I kind of suspected it. I would recommend this if you like YA mysteries, toxic friendships and some queer romance.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC ☀️
July 10, 2026
3.5 rounded up
The protagonist is by her own description annoying at times, but she is definitely going through so much that you can't really blame her for it.
It's a messy story about grieving people who may have been terrible for you but that doesn't mean they weren't a part of your life.
Potential spoilers below
I do have 1 major plot hole that I believe is supposed to be covered by "the local police just don't care about outsiders enough to investigate" but it's never mentioned except as "what if someone finds out"
You punctured the tires with a crowbar someone should have at least been considering foul play even if they didn't suspect you specifically, the whole "locals want to say accident" makes so much sense and works for most things, but this additional detail bugs me for some reason.
The protagonist is by her own description annoying at times, but she is definitely going through so much that you can't really blame her for it.
It's a messy story about grieving people who may have been terrible for you but that doesn't mean they weren't a part of your life.
Potential spoilers below
I do have 1 major plot hole that I believe is supposed to be covered by "the local police just don't care about outsiders enough to investigate" but it's never mentioned except as "what if someone finds out"
You punctured the tires with a crowbar someone should have at least been considering foul play even if they didn't suspect you specifically, the whole "locals want to say accident" makes so much sense and works for most things, but this additional detail bugs me for some reason.
February 17, 2026
This book was amazing!! I loved all the action, suspense, and terror I felt while reading it!! I read it in 3 days and can’t wait to read more books from this author!! This book was everything I wanted in a thriller!! The LGBTQ+ representation was the best!! There was not one dull moment in this book!! I read it so fast because I needed to know what happened to the girls in the book!! It was very fast paced and exciting throughout the book! This is a book I will not forget reading!! It was so fun and frightening at the same time!! I love this author so much and can’t wait to read more books from her in the future!!
March 30, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.25 to 4.5 stars.
This is described as pretty little liars meets the blair witch and I think thats a fair description. The whole story is steeped in eerie tension and a mystery that has you thinking wth quite often. I did kind of guess an aspect of the twist, but there’s no way I could’ve guessed the full insanity that unfolded.
I enjoy our main characters Beck and Emma, an unlikely duo who bring slightly decent detective work and loyalty to the story. I was quite surprised how the plot originally unfolded as I did not expect the dark turn of events that send Beck and Emma on their path.
This is described as pretty little liars meets the blair witch and I think thats a fair description. The whole story is steeped in eerie tension and a mystery that has you thinking wth quite often. I did kind of guess an aspect of the twist, but there’s no way I could’ve guessed the full insanity that unfolded.
I enjoy our main characters Beck and Emma, an unlikely duo who bring slightly decent detective work and loyalty to the story. I was quite surprised how the plot originally unfolded as I did not expect the dark turn of events that send Beck and Emma on their path.
July 5, 2026
This was a fun, enjoyable read. What Happened to Those Girls kept me engaged and guessing and delivered a satisfying twist. We get a witch-in-the-woods urban legend, gruesome deaths, and two girls determined to find the truth at any cost. There's also a tiny romance arc that I wasn't expecting at all. I only wish we'd gotten more insight into the investigation, and without any spoilers, the ending, the motives, and other behaviors that might have hinted they were capable of the act. Overall, I would recommend this book and plan to read more from Carlyn Greenwald.
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Fire for gifting me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Fire for gifting me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
March 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for this ARC on exchange for an honest review!
Oh wow finally an interesting and eerie thriller that left me guessing the whole way!! I loved the whole disappearing camping vibe. It was too good. The vibes of the book were spooky, eerie, dark and just amazing all around! I definitely recommend this author and I hope to read more from
Oh wow finally an interesting and eerie thriller that left me guessing the whole way!! I loved the whole disappearing camping vibe. It was too good. The vibes of the book were spooky, eerie, dark and just amazing all around! I definitely recommend this author and I hope to read more from
Want to Read
February 13, 2026A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
July 27, 2026
I need to speak with this editor of midnight reads, what is going on over there
July 14, 2026
So dumb, not sure why I kept reading that 👎🏻
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