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New Year's Grieve
Not yet published
Expected 17 Nov 26In this romp of a country house mystery for fans of Truly Devious and Knives Out, when Jojo’s grandad is found dead at a winter family gathering, Jojo is determined to uncover which of her horrible relatives is responsible—and to avoid her maddening ex-boyfriend who crashed the party.
Jojo had planned to spend her winter break healing her heart in the surf of the Pacific. Instead, she’s being forced to attend Grandad’s New Year’s birthday at his estate in the snowy North Carolina mountains—along with her whole horrible family, each one competing to be the most insufferable person at the dinner table.
But things are even worse than Jojo had feared. For some ungodly reason, Fritz is here—Fritz, the childhood friend who broke her heart last summer, whom she’s sworn to loathe for all eternity. And, worst of all, he looks great in winter wear.
The trip takes a turn for the tragic when Grandad is found dead. No one else in the snowed-in house suspects foul play, but Jojo knows the Someone here has committed a murder. Now, she just has to figure out who, and murder them back.
And, because the universe hates her, she might need Fritz’s help...
Jojo had planned to spend her winter break healing her heart in the surf of the Pacific. Instead, she’s being forced to attend Grandad’s New Year’s birthday at his estate in the snowy North Carolina mountains—along with her whole horrible family, each one competing to be the most insufferable person at the dinner table.
But things are even worse than Jojo had feared. For some ungodly reason, Fritz is here—Fritz, the childhood friend who broke her heart last summer, whom she’s sworn to loathe for all eternity. And, worst of all, he looks great in winter wear.
The trip takes a turn for the tragic when Grandad is found dead. No one else in the snowed-in house suspects foul play, but Jojo knows the Someone here has committed a murder. Now, she just has to figure out who, and murder them back.
And, because the universe hates her, she might need Fritz’s help...
Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 17, 2026
About the author
Elizabeth Foscue
3 books38 followersElizabeth Foscue grew up in a house on a Florida bay and on a boat in the Caribbean Sea. A hurricane got the house, but the boat has fared better. She earned a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Florida then a J.D. and LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center, and in the midst of all that got married in a church on a hill in the British Virgin Islands. A hurricane got the church, but the marriage has fared better. Elizabeth lives in Santa Barbara, California with her husband and two awesome kiddos.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 22, 2026
The premise of this book really intrigued me. I like the “snowed in with a killer” trope and a YA Knives Out sounded interesting, especially the idea of being forced to team up with the guy who broke her heart to solve the mystery.
Unfortunately, I didn’t like this book much at all, and that is almost entirely due to the main character Jojo, who was obnoxious in the extreme. I absolutely loathed her, from the snotty way she talked to just about everyone, to her inner monologue, to the way she treated the love interest Fritz (WHY did he like her? She was horrible to him!), to her immature actions and risky behaviors.
First off, I was expecting the grandfather to die pretty early in the book. In actuality, the grandfather’s death doesn’t happen until around the 50 percent mark. The first half of the book was basically the family bickering to set up the suspects. However, I found it very difficult to keep track of everyone since they were all introduced at the same time. And since the blurb says the grandfather dies, I felt like I was waiting around for that to happen. I hate it when blurbs spoil plot details, though I guess in this case it’s solving a murder so you know someone will die. Anyway…
When the grandfather finally did die, Jojo is like, “I’m going to find the person who did this. And kill them.” Um, that’s a little extreme, especially for a teenager, but whatever. And Fritz basically said that to her and she went off on him and had a fit. She was perfectly willing to murder a family member which was really disturbing. Not to mention intentionally trying to give herself an anaphylactic reaction AND spiking Fritz’s plate with COCAINE?!? Um, what?!? Was she joking with him??? I certainly hope so! Now that I think about it more she had to be joking because where would she get cocaine? I don’t know; anyway, she was horrible and I didn’t like her at all.
That’s another thing - I couldn’t tell if this book was supposed to be a farce or an absurdist take on a murder mystery or if I was supposed to take it seriously. Even at the end, Jojo says that she and Fritz went off and had sex (I guess) and then I turned the page and she basically said she was kidding and THIS is what really happened and then the story continued. It felt like a less funny version of the movie Clue.
Sadly, this ended up being a miss for me.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Unfortunately, I didn’t like this book much at all, and that is almost entirely due to the main character Jojo, who was obnoxious in the extreme. I absolutely loathed her, from the snotty way she talked to just about everyone, to her inner monologue, to the way she treated the love interest Fritz (WHY did he like her? She was horrible to him!), to her immature actions and risky behaviors.
First off, I was expecting the grandfather to die pretty early in the book. In actuality, the grandfather’s death doesn’t happen until around the 50 percent mark. The first half of the book was basically the family bickering to set up the suspects. However, I found it very difficult to keep track of everyone since they were all introduced at the same time. And since the blurb says the grandfather dies, I felt like I was waiting around for that to happen. I hate it when blurbs spoil plot details, though I guess in this case it’s solving a murder so you know someone will die. Anyway…
When the grandfather finally did die, Jojo is like, “I’m going to find the person who did this. And kill them.” Um, that’s a little extreme, especially for a teenager, but whatever. And Fritz basically said that to her and she went off on him and had a fit. She was perfectly willing to murder a family member which was really disturbing. Not to mention intentionally trying to give herself an anaphylactic reaction AND spiking Fritz’s plate with COCAINE?!? Um, what?!? Was she joking with him??? I certainly hope so! Now that I think about it more she had to be joking because where would she get cocaine? I don’t know; anyway, she was horrible and I didn’t like her at all.
That’s another thing - I couldn’t tell if this book was supposed to be a farce or an absurdist take on a murder mystery or if I was supposed to take it seriously. Even at the end, Jojo says that she and Fritz went off and had sex (I guess) and then I turned the page and she basically said she was kidding and THIS is what really happened and then the story continued. It felt like a less funny version of the movie Clue.
Sadly, this ended up being a miss for me.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to Read
July 3, 2026❄️🔪 New Year's Grieve 🔪❄️
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
🕵️ What to Expect
• YA Mystery
• Locked Room Mystery
• Snowed In
• Family Drama
• Exes to Allies
• Murder Investigation
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 17, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
🕵️ What to Expect
• YA Mystery
• Locked Room Mystery
• Snowed In
• Family Drama
• Exes to Allies
• Murder Investigation
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 17, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Kids for an e-galley of New Year's Grieve by Elizabeth Foscue to read and review.
I was really looking forward to reading this YA Thriller, but unfortunately for me, it fell far short of the mark. I found it incredibly slow and dare I say, boring.
It follows an incredibly immature, spoiled, self-entitled brat of an 18 year old named Jojo who is determined to solve her grandfather's murder - which doesn't even happen until late in the book....
Most of the book is spent on poor entitled Jojo and how awful she has it in life. How awful her family is. How she treats her immediate family members horribly. Blah, blah, blah. By time the story actually starts, you have no real interest to finish it.
I truly think the book would have better if the main character was at least a little likeable. Not only is she surrounded by awful family members, she is one too - but thinks she isn't.
I was really looking forward to reading this YA Thriller, but unfortunately for me, it fell far short of the mark. I found it incredibly slow and dare I say, boring.
It follows an incredibly immature, spoiled, self-entitled brat of an 18 year old named Jojo who is determined to solve her grandfather's murder - which doesn't even happen until late in the book....
Most of the book is spent on poor entitled Jojo and how awful she has it in life. How awful her family is. How she treats her immediate family members horribly. Blah, blah, blah. By time the story actually starts, you have no real interest to finish it.
I truly think the book would have better if the main character was at least a little likeable. Not only is she surrounded by awful family members, she is one too - but thinks she isn't.
Review of advance copy
Murder has never been so funny! Knives Out meets Arrested Development in this hilarious and unhinged mystery perfect for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Kate Emery, and Benjamin Stevenson.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at HarperCollins for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. In New Year's Grieve, we follow Jojo who is forced to attend her grandfather's 90th birthday party over the New Year's holiday with the family she can't stand. From her podcasting cousin to her uncle who just got married to a woman half his age following an ugly divorce. What she doesn't expect is her ex, Fritz, attending the party. But things get even worse when the guest of honor drops dead on his birthday. Jojo must uncover the killer before her suspects leave the mansion for their own homes. New Year's Grieve comes out on November 17th and is available for preorder now.
I am a big fan of messy, rich families. All of the relatives being absolutely irredeemable and unapologetic about it was the best. I loved seeing how all of their drama played out. Especially with the ones who had nothing to do with the murder. Also, the way I can completely picture this "Cottage" with so many bedrooms, bathrooms, boathouses, bunk houses, etc. sucks me into the story. It felt like the family money just seeps throughout the story. My favorite character was actually the grandfather so it was a bit sad when he died. He was this cranky old guy who has absolutely had it with his whole family. Except for Jojo who is just as cranky and done with the family as him. Their relationship was so sweet and I enjoyed every single scene with both of them in it. Fritz was a good guy who was an okay love interest. We have a "fake" kiss between the Fritz and Jojo that was fun and unexpected.
I agree with other reviewers who say this book reads pretty young. Our main characters are supposed to be in their junior year of high school but they all act like they're entering middle school. The writing style also felt pretty immature. I don't know if it's me or if the way the author kept having the main character do stupid things for no real reason is what makes the writing feel lackluster. Examples include: Jojo hiding food under a table because she dropped her plate, Jojo running around in wet clothes instead of washing or drying any of the stuff that fell out of her luggage, Jojo trying to uncover if poison was used by testing it on herself...multiple times. There's also the moment when the mom is picking a rental car and goes for a Mustang because it's fun instead of the all wheel drive car they need to get up to the Cottage. This felt like a Rom-Com dressed up as a Mystery novel. Between the pacing, the focus on the past relationship, the last couple of chapters where the murderer is uncovered and chaos ensues--but let's just take a moment to make out in the den no one uses for some reason. Okay.
Overall, this was a fun and quick read. I originally had it slated for earlier in the week but my reading got put on paused for a few days thanks to real life crap. I think this will be perfect for seasonal readers and those who want a little more romance in their mysteries.
I am a big fan of messy, rich families. All of the relatives being absolutely irredeemable and unapologetic about it was the best. I loved seeing how all of their drama played out. Especially with the ones who had nothing to do with the murder. Also, the way I can completely picture this "Cottage" with so many bedrooms, bathrooms, boathouses, bunk houses, etc. sucks me into the story. It felt like the family money just seeps throughout the story. My favorite character was actually the grandfather so it was a bit sad when he died. He was this cranky old guy who has absolutely had it with his whole family. Except for Jojo who is just as cranky and done with the family as him. Their relationship was so sweet and I enjoyed every single scene with both of them in it. Fritz was a good guy who was an okay love interest. We have a "fake" kiss between the Fritz and Jojo that was fun and unexpected.
I agree with other reviewers who say this book reads pretty young. Our main characters are supposed to be in their junior year of high school but they all act like they're entering middle school. The writing style also felt pretty immature. I don't know if it's me or if the way the author kept having the main character do stupid things for no real reason is what makes the writing feel lackluster. Examples include: Jojo hiding food under a table because she dropped her plate, Jojo running around in wet clothes instead of washing or drying any of the stuff that fell out of her luggage, Jojo trying to uncover if poison was used by testing it on herself...multiple times. There's also the moment when the mom is picking a rental car and goes for a Mustang because it's fun instead of the all wheel drive car they need to get up to the Cottage. This felt like a Rom-Com dressed up as a Mystery novel. Between the pacing, the focus on the past relationship, the last couple of chapters where the murderer is uncovered and chaos ensues--but let's just take a moment to make out in the den no one uses for some reason. Okay.
Overall, this was a fun and quick read. I originally had it slated for earlier in the week but my reading got put on paused for a few days thanks to real life crap. I think this will be perfect for seasonal readers and those who want a little more romance in their mysteries.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you love Knives Out-style family drama where literally everyone is awful, then “New Year's Grieve” by Elizabeth Foscue is probably going to be your kind of chaos.
Jojo is forced to spend New Year's at her wealthy grandfather's 90th birthday party instead of surfing in California and getting over her breakup with her childhood best friend (and secret boyfriend), Fritz. Unfortunately for her, the guest list is packed with the most insufferable relatives imaginable. They're greedy, petty, constantly insulting each other, and all seem far more interested in Grandad's money than celebrating his birthday. Then a winter storm traps everyone inside and Grandad turns up dead.
Jojo immediately knows it wasn't an accident and decides she's going to solve the murder herself, even if it means reluctantly teaming up with Fritz, who she would very much prefer to keep avoiding.
The biggest highlight of this book is definitely the family. They are an absolute train wreck in the most entertaining way possible. Every conversation feels like someone is about to start a fight, and Jojo's sarcastic inner monologue had me laughing more than once. She's sharp, brutally honest, and has zero patience for anyone's nonsense. She's definitely not the easiest protagonist to love, but her snark makes her a lot of fun to follow.
The mystery itself has all the ingredients of a classic locked-room whodunit: a snowed-in mansion, a long list of suspects, family secrets, and plenty of motives. It felt like a YA version of a cozy country house mystery with a healthy dose of dysfunctional-family comedy mixed in.
That said, the murder takes a little while to happen since the first part spends a lot of time introducing the massive cast of relatives. There are also a lot of names to keep straight at first, which was quite overwhelming and made the mystery aspect a bit confusing. Once the investigation begins, the pacing picks up, although I found the mystery itself a bit less satisfying than all the family drama surrounding it. The romance between Jojo and Fritz also didn't completely work for me; they spend much of the book pushing each other away, so their chemistry never felt quite as strong as I'd hoped.
Even with those minor complaints, I still had a great time reading this. The humor, the outrageous relatives, the snowy setting, and the classic "everyone's a suspect" mystery made this a really entertaining read. If you're looking for a murder mystery packed with messy family dynamics and enough rich people behaving badly to make you roll your eyes every few pages, “New Year's Grieve” is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
If you love Knives Out-style family drama where literally everyone is awful, then “New Year's Grieve” by Elizabeth Foscue is probably going to be your kind of chaos.
Jojo is forced to spend New Year's at her wealthy grandfather's 90th birthday party instead of surfing in California and getting over her breakup with her childhood best friend (and secret boyfriend), Fritz. Unfortunately for her, the guest list is packed with the most insufferable relatives imaginable. They're greedy, petty, constantly insulting each other, and all seem far more interested in Grandad's money than celebrating his birthday. Then a winter storm traps everyone inside and Grandad turns up dead.
Jojo immediately knows it wasn't an accident and decides she's going to solve the murder herself, even if it means reluctantly teaming up with Fritz, who she would very much prefer to keep avoiding.
The biggest highlight of this book is definitely the family. They are an absolute train wreck in the most entertaining way possible. Every conversation feels like someone is about to start a fight, and Jojo's sarcastic inner monologue had me laughing more than once. She's sharp, brutally honest, and has zero patience for anyone's nonsense. She's definitely not the easiest protagonist to love, but her snark makes her a lot of fun to follow.
The mystery itself has all the ingredients of a classic locked-room whodunit: a snowed-in mansion, a long list of suspects, family secrets, and plenty of motives. It felt like a YA version of a cozy country house mystery with a healthy dose of dysfunctional-family comedy mixed in.
That said, the murder takes a little while to happen since the first part spends a lot of time introducing the massive cast of relatives. There are also a lot of names to keep straight at first, which was quite overwhelming and made the mystery aspect a bit confusing. Once the investigation begins, the pacing picks up, although I found the mystery itself a bit less satisfying than all the family drama surrounding it. The romance between Jojo and Fritz also didn't completely work for me; they spend much of the book pushing each other away, so their chemistry never felt quite as strong as I'd hoped.
Even with those minor complaints, I still had a great time reading this. The humor, the outrageous relatives, the snowy setting, and the classic "everyone's a suspect" mystery made this a really entertaining read. If you're looking for a murder mystery packed with messy family dynamics and enough rich people behaving badly to make you roll your eyes every few pages, “New Year's Grieve” is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
September 13, 2026
I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway!
I don't typically read summaries or the backs of books before I start them, and boy am I glad I didn't. Based on the cover, I was expecting it to be a feel-good winter cozy forced proximity romance book, but I was pleasantly surprised when it became slightly dark halfway through (something that would not have been a surprise had I read a short synopsis).
As a short synopsis, though: Jojo gets stuck with accompanying her mom to her stinking rich grandfather's home in the mountains during a winter snowstorm. The extended family is there to celebrate his birthday, but people have ulterior motives and desires for a greater inheritance. Fritz, Jojo's family friend and ex(?), is also there. Jojo is bitter and Fritz is trying to explain himself, but then a tragedy strikes and the two have bigger fish to fry as they seek revenge.
Even if it was just a romance book, though, I really enjoyed the two main characters. Romance books are usually an eyeroll for me because of the blandness of the characters, and sure, there are some one-dimensional tropes going on here, but the humor and banter are definitely a level above typical standalone romance books. I think that the whole cast of characters in the family make for a fun read, Jojo and Fritz have some flirty hatey care for each other, and the vengeance is lighthearted but fun.
I do wish we had a bit more of Jojo and Fritz developing their reconnection, especially since we meet them after their history and hatred for each other. I also wish we'd gotten to see Jojo get her payment from her dad, but I'm glad we got a neat little bow on how the rest of the family turned out.
Humorous and fun. I would've gotten through it so much faster if I new it was more than just romance.
I don't typically read summaries or the backs of books before I start them, and boy am I glad I didn't. Based on the cover, I was expecting it to be a feel-good winter cozy forced proximity romance book, but I was pleasantly surprised when it became slightly dark halfway through (something that would not have been a surprise had I read a short synopsis).
As a short synopsis, though: Jojo gets stuck with accompanying her mom to her stinking rich grandfather's home in the mountains during a winter snowstorm. The extended family is there to celebrate his birthday, but people have ulterior motives and desires for a greater inheritance. Fritz, Jojo's family friend and ex(?), is also there. Jojo is bitter and Fritz is trying to explain himself, but then a tragedy strikes and the two have bigger fish to fry as they seek revenge.
Even if it was just a romance book, though, I really enjoyed the two main characters. Romance books are usually an eyeroll for me because of the blandness of the characters, and sure, there are some one-dimensional tropes going on here, but the humor and banter are definitely a level above typical standalone romance books. I think that the whole cast of characters in the family make for a fun read, Jojo and Fritz have some flirty hatey care for each other, and the vengeance is lighthearted but fun.
I do wish we had a bit more of Jojo and Fritz developing their reconnection, especially since we meet them after their history and hatred for each other. I also wish we'd gotten to see Jojo get her payment from her dad, but I'm glad we got a neat little bow on how the rest of the family turned out.
Humorous and fun. I would've gotten through it so much faster if I new it was more than just romance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
JoJo is forced to attend her grandfather's 90th birthday party over New Years Eve at one of the family's homes in North Carolina. Her grandfather is the only member of her family she actually likes, but she would rather be surfing in California and trying to get over her ex boyfriend Fritz, not be trapped by a winter storm with her insufferable family and that same ex. Then her grandfather is murdered and JoJo has no choice but to team up with Fritz to unmask the murderer.
There were many times I laughed out loud at the commentary from JoJo. She could be very funny in a caustic sort of way. Her entire extended family was just ridiculous. Definitely the stereotypical rich all their lives jerks all after the family money. I appreciated that each family member had a distinct personality, although none of them were likeable. I think that was the point though, this entire family was made up of horrible people.
Overall I did enjoy this book, but I gave it 3 stars for a few reasons. JoJo was not a very likable character in the end, as she really wasn't very nice and she didn't seem to care about anyone but herself. I did not like the method she used to bring down the killer. I also didn't like how she treated Fritz and really their whole dynamic. I didn't get the impression she actually cared about him at all aside from physical attraction. I also didn't like that certain family members didn't face consequences for their actions, although I guess that's unfortunately realistic for rich people.
Spice Level: 0.5/5 🌶️ - there is kissing and a fade to black scene where clothes are shed.
I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There were many times I laughed out loud at the commentary from JoJo. She could be very funny in a caustic sort of way. Her entire extended family was just ridiculous. Definitely the stereotypical rich all their lives jerks all after the family money. I appreciated that each family member had a distinct personality, although none of them were likeable. I think that was the point though, this entire family was made up of horrible people.
Overall I did enjoy this book, but I gave it 3 stars for a few reasons. JoJo was not a very likable character in the end, as she really wasn't very nice and she didn't seem to care about anyone but herself. I did not like the method she used to bring down the killer. I also didn't like how she treated Fritz and really their whole dynamic. I didn't get the impression she actually cared about him at all aside from physical attraction. I also didn't like that certain family members didn't face consequences for their actions, although I guess that's unfortunately realistic for rich people.
Spice Level: 0.5/5 🌶️ - there is kissing and a fade to black scene where clothes are shed.
I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
(Finished May 25th, 2026)
I am OBSSESED with a good messy family. And this delivered on that count, this family is so dysfunctional and everyone was just unlikeable. So there for, I loved it. It was such a similar vibe to Holly Jackson's "The Reaperance of Rachel Price" when it came to the messy family dynamic. And they didnt hold back in this one, the come backs were so hilarious when it came to our main girl Jojo. The family was racist, homophobic, and bad republicans. Nothing was spared.
But aside from that aspect, I will say I was a bit let down by the book itself. The first half of the book I was HOOKED!!! But once the grandfather dies, it kind of just went a bit stale. The mystery solving itself was okay but a bit flimsy. I dont feel like I really discovered anything.
And the side plot romance was okay and a bit weird? We dont see Fritz with jojo often after the murder, and when he is near her jojo keeps pushing him away. I was hoping for a more sidekick personality from him but alas that wasn't happening. So when they do reconcile it was a bit....weird, especially the timing. I wasn't really connected to their love.
The ending didnt really leave me feeling satisfied, I kind of felt like I didnt solve anything nor did I feel the love story, which was disheartening.
Overall it was a decent book and I enjoyed it well enough. I just wish there was more.
I am OBSSESED with a good messy family. And this delivered on that count, this family is so dysfunctional and everyone was just unlikeable. So there for, I loved it. It was such a similar vibe to Holly Jackson's "The Reaperance of Rachel Price" when it came to the messy family dynamic. And they didnt hold back in this one, the come backs were so hilarious when it came to our main girl Jojo. The family was racist, homophobic, and bad republicans. Nothing was spared.
But aside from that aspect, I will say I was a bit let down by the book itself. The first half of the book I was HOOKED!!! But once the grandfather dies, it kind of just went a bit stale. The mystery solving itself was okay but a bit flimsy. I dont feel like I really discovered anything.
And the side plot romance was okay and a bit weird? We dont see Fritz with jojo often after the murder, and when he is near her jojo keeps pushing him away. I was hoping for a more sidekick personality from him but alas that wasn't happening. So when they do reconcile it was a bit....weird, especially the timing. I wasn't really connected to their love.
The ending didnt really leave me feeling satisfied, I kind of felt like I didnt solve anything nor did I feel the love story, which was disheartening.
Overall it was a decent book and I enjoyed it well enough. I just wish there was more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Marketed as Truly Devious meets Knives Out, I had high expectations for this book that was unfortunately not met. What those two properties have that this book did not was a fairly likable characters. Jojo is spoiled and self serving, she cares for no one but herself, including her own immediate family. Her extended family I can understand, as you're not meant to like them, they're meant to be suspects. However, some of them are so cartoonishly bad, it was hard to believe the murderer's reveal when it happened. Some characters I could see in a Knives Out style mystery, like the new age new wife Maya, or the cousin obsessed with getting a horse, but they play such a tiny role, it's easy to forget them. The murder doesn't happen until halfway through the book, leaving you waiting for it to happen as you struggle through a family reunion of a family that obviously hates each other but lacks the charm to keep you wanting to keep reading.
The mystery solving was just Jojo making rash decisions and inflicting so much harm to herself and other people. Giving her a love interest who still liked her at the end was just too much.
The mystery solving was just Jojo making rash decisions and inflicting so much harm to herself and other people. Giving her a love interest who still liked her at the end was just too much.
May 14, 2026
Read a free ARC on NetGalley.
Jojo is forced to go with her mother to her Grandpa’s 90th birthday, which is occurring around New Year’s Eve. She really doesn’t want to go- her relatives are all horrible people and she is getting over a breakup with her childhood best friend/first love Fritz. They had kept their relationship secret so no one knows about it. She arrives at her Grandpa’s North Carolina estate and Fritz is there unexpectedly. He really want to talk to her and clear the air between them (and maybe get back together) but Jojo isn’t interested. Her family is as horrible as she expected, but at least she’s with her Grandpa. They have very similar personalities, they both can’t stand their relatives and they both are allergic to nuts, which becomes important to the story. When her Grandpa turns up dead, Jojo is convinced he has been murdered and she’s going to find out who did it- and make them pay.
The story is entertaining, even though the ending is a little over the top. I really liked the character of Jojo and the “closed circle of suspects” type of murder mystery story.
Jojo is forced to go with her mother to her Grandpa’s 90th birthday, which is occurring around New Year’s Eve. She really doesn’t want to go- her relatives are all horrible people and she is getting over a breakup with her childhood best friend/first love Fritz. They had kept their relationship secret so no one knows about it. She arrives at her Grandpa’s North Carolina estate and Fritz is there unexpectedly. He really want to talk to her and clear the air between them (and maybe get back together) but Jojo isn’t interested. Her family is as horrible as she expected, but at least she’s with her Grandpa. They have very similar personalities, they both can’t stand their relatives and they both are allergic to nuts, which becomes important to the story. When her Grandpa turns up dead, Jojo is convinced he has been murdered and she’s going to find out who did it- and make them pay.
The story is entertaining, even though the ending is a little over the top. I really liked the character of Jojo and the “closed circle of suspects” type of murder mystery story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read this ARC via Netgalley.
Jojo is less than thrilled about spending the New Year's holiday at her grandfather's house with a bunch of bickering, entitled family. Even worse, her old friend Fritz is there. Things start off bad and only get worse when she discovers her grandfather dead and only narrowly escapes death herself after she drinks what he'd been drinking, because both she and her grandfather have a deadly allergy to nuts. With a storm raging outside, Jojo knows one of her relatives purposefully killed him. But will her supply of Epipens last until she can find out who?
I was expecting the murder to happen much sooner in the story - it didn't happen until slightly more than halfway through, which is why it felt like the family bickering seemed to go on for a bit too long. The dark humor was the most enjoyable part. Jojo herself was also on the entitled, bratty side which made it hard to really like her and to differentiate her from all the other relatives. The tension with Fritz grounded the story nicely, as it was obvious that there was more going on between them from the get-go.
Jojo is less than thrilled about spending the New Year's holiday at her grandfather's house with a bunch of bickering, entitled family. Even worse, her old friend Fritz is there. Things start off bad and only get worse when she discovers her grandfather dead and only narrowly escapes death herself after she drinks what he'd been drinking, because both she and her grandfather have a deadly allergy to nuts. With a storm raging outside, Jojo knows one of her relatives purposefully killed him. But will her supply of Epipens last until she can find out who?
I was expecting the murder to happen much sooner in the story - it didn't happen until slightly more than halfway through, which is why it felt like the family bickering seemed to go on for a bit too long. The dark humor was the most enjoyable part. Jojo herself was also on the entitled, bratty side which made it hard to really like her and to differentiate her from all the other relatives. The tension with Fritz grounded the story nicely, as it was obvious that there was more going on between them from the get-go.
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August 31, 20263.25⭐
I enjoyed the messy family drama and the side romance!
The beginning drew me in, and I was ready for this murder mystery.But I did feel like I had to wait through most of the book to get to the main plot, and it felt rushed when we got there.
I enjoyed Bruce and Bill and would have loved to hear some more banter from them! I love the side romance with Fritz, I wish it would have been a tiny bit more romance-y. I loved that there was such a variety of characters!
I thought the ending seemed kind of out of place, it seemed rushed and crazy, and didn't quite wrap everything up as nicely as I had hoped.
But over all I enjoyed the "murder but funny" story line and would definitely recommend it to others wanting a fun read! And I would definitely read a sequel if there happens to be more chaos with a certain character's wedding during hurricane season in the Virgin Islands!
I enjoyed the messy family drama and the side romance!
The beginning drew me in, and I was ready for this murder mystery.But I did feel like I had to wait through most of the book to get to the main plot, and it felt rushed when we got there.
I enjoyed Bruce and Bill and would have loved to hear some more banter from them! I love the side romance with Fritz, I wish it would have been a tiny bit more romance-y. I loved that there was such a variety of characters!
I thought the ending seemed kind of out of place, it seemed rushed and crazy, and didn't quite wrap everything up as nicely as I had hoped.
But over all I enjoyed the "murder but funny" story line and would definitely recommend it to others wanting a fun read! And I would definitely read a sequel if there happens to be more chaos with a certain character's wedding during hurricane season in the Virgin Islands!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jojo takes pride in being the most practical (and therefore most disagreeable) member of her family. So, when she is forced to spend the last few days of winter break as the sole support person for her mom as she braves a get together with extended family, she is pushed into her worst nightmare--suffering her idiot cousins, aunts, and uncles. Add her ex-whatever-he-is, and she is at her wit's end.
When her grandfather, the only other human who understands her, is found dead on his birthday, Jojo must figure out what really happened to him and which one of her beloved family members is a killer.
While at times I found Jojo's character to be an insufferable brat, I also think it added a unique humor to what could be a darker story. Overall, a quick YA mystery that youth will enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!
When her grandfather, the only other human who understands her, is found dead on his birthday, Jojo must figure out what really happened to him and which one of her beloved family members is a killer.
While at times I found Jojo's character to be an insufferable brat, I also think it added a unique humor to what could be a darker story. Overall, a quick YA mystery that youth will enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!
July 13, 2026
This was a fun read! It gave Knives Out vibes, but with a teenage protagonist. It was a quick read for me. The main character definitely felt like a teenager, but that's what she was supposed to be! Her family was a little nuts and over the top, but I felt like it fit with the overall feel of the book. I liked Fritz and felt like he deserved more than JoJo at times. I couldn't tell if I liked JoJo's mom or not. She seemed different than her family and in some ways just as chaotic and over the top. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others as a fun New Year's Read. I read this for a Christmas in July read and enjoyed that it was not your average festive, Christmas/New Year's Love Story.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The blurb is so correct! This was definitely reminiscent of a Knives Out style mystery and the pacing is strong. This was a gracious offer from the author via NetGalley widget and I loved it!
Jojo, our FMC, is struggling with a heartbreak she never anticipated when her parents decide that she will accompany her mother from California to North Carolina for her grandfather's 90th birthday celebration over New Year's. Cue even more unhappiness until surprise! Grandfather is dead! Uh-oh. Jojo is suspicious of everyone; determined to figure out what happened she creates hijinx between all of her family which culminate in the surprise you are looking for.
Thank you again to the author for providing me with an early copy. This was a fun read!
Jojo, our FMC, is struggling with a heartbreak she never anticipated when her parents decide that she will accompany her mother from California to North Carolina for her grandfather's 90th birthday celebration over New Year's. Cue even more unhappiness until surprise! Grandfather is dead! Uh-oh. Jojo is suspicious of everyone; determined to figure out what happened she creates hijinx between all of her family which culminate in the surprise you are looking for.
Thank you again to the author for providing me with an early copy. This was a fun read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh boy, did I have fun with this one! Let me start by stating that our main character, Jojo, is contrary and sorta selfish and always scheming and I loved her. Her choices are steadfastly in line with her wants, and she will do what she has to do to get those wants. The setup is simple: a secluded home cutoff from the world by a snowstorm, bickering family members who don't trust each other one bit, a death, and an investigation (by Jojo). The writing is swift and situations change quickly; Jojo can't seem to sit still for long. The snowed in setting is perfect for a cozy, fall/winter read and the resolution was unexpected. Loved this story so much I preordered a copy for myself!
I received an advance review copy from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had a lot of fun with this book. The pace was popping, the voice was funny, the family members absurd in every archetypal way. And a few Google-able vocab words just to keep me on my
toes. I often compare this author’s writing to reading the screenplay of a Veronica Mars episode. I love Foscue’s quirky heroines. She captures the voice as a believable caricature of a teen girl (this coming from a 25 year middle school teacher and mom of a sharp tongued 17 year old). A fun read, perfect for the holiday break. My early copy meant I was out of season finishing it on Memorial Day Weekend, but I was at a house party, so it made the setting and set up even more fun!
toes. I often compare this author’s writing to reading the screenplay of a Veronica Mars episode. I love Foscue’s quirky heroines. She captures the voice as a believable caricature of a teen girl (this coming from a 25 year middle school teacher and mom of a sharp tongued 17 year old). A fun read, perfect for the holiday break. My early copy meant I was out of season finishing it on Memorial Day Weekend, but I was at a house party, so it made the setting and set up even more fun!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
New Year's Grieve by Elizabeth Foscue is the story of Jojo and her Grandfather and the gathering of the family in the middle of winter in the lake house. When the whole family plus Jojo's old boyfriend end up together and the snow falls and closes the road and someone kills Jojo's Grandfather, she has to find out who and why. As Jojo tries to figure out what happened to her ex-boyfriend and also figure out who killed her 90 year old Grandfather, we are treated to figuring out why her family is the way they are. This is a good story and some good characters and a lot of not so good characters!
July 27, 2026
This is a YA locked room mystery that releases in November 2026. This one is a wild ride. Takes place as a family gathers to celebrate granddad’s 90th birthday. The main character is unwillingly forced to go and discovers her childhood best friend/recent heartbreak is also there and wants to chat. When granddad turns up dead, she feels foul play was at work, as most of the family is arguing over granddad’s will. Some of the characters are truly despicable. The ending is truly a wild ride. Would recommend as a fun read to end the year.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.25 starts rounded down
Honestly, if I was in middle school I would have loved this book. It gives you terrible characters, and then a whole lot of action at the end. With an ending that is perfectly wrapped up with a happy ending. Was it practical? no. Were all my questions answered? No. At 13 would I have cared? Probably not as much as I do now as an adult. I will put this book in my classroom library because I know my middles will love it.
Honestly, if I was in middle school I would have loved this book. It gives you terrible characters, and then a whole lot of action at the end. With an ending that is perfectly wrapped up with a happy ending. Was it practical? no. Were all my questions answered? No. At 13 would I have cared? Probably not as much as I do now as an adult. I will put this book in my classroom library because I know my middles will love it.
October 10, 2026
The first half of the book is sooooooo slow. But as soon as the murder happens, things really pick up, and I ended up flying through the rest of the book. It’s way too obvious way too quick what happened, who did it, how they did it, all that jazz. But if you look at it more as a quirky character study full of rich arseholes, then it can be a fun farce. The humor is well done, I even literally laughed out loud.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For a murder mystery, it took a while for things to really start happening. It’s definitely more character-focused than plot-focused. The main character is a brat, and her personality is so well written, but there are WAYYY too many characters to keep track of. Still good though.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the AR
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the AR
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
New Year’s Grieve was ok for me. I really enjoyed the realistic and often messy characters. It was a bit of slow burn , at least in the beginning for me, but I really ended up liking it. The setting was really cool and it really helped bring the story to life for me. The ending fell flat, I’m not sure what I expected but it wasn’t that.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was an enjoyable read! I loved the family mystery at the center of the story, especially with the locked room setup which is one of my favorite types of mysteries. The characters were great and there were even a few moments that genuinely made me laugh with the dark humor. It had such a fun mix of mystery, family dynamics, and funny moments that kept me entertained throughout!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won an advance copy of this book from Goodreads.
It is about a greedy dysfunctional family celebrating Grandad's birthday. Grandad ends up dead and JoJo trying to solve what she believes was a murder.
It was a quick enjoyable read.
It is about a greedy dysfunctional family celebrating Grandad's birthday. Grandad ends up dead and JoJo trying to solve what she believes was a murder.
It was a quick enjoyable read.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This was a fun read. A teenage girl who lives in California and loves surfing accompanies her mother to the North Carolina mountains. They are there for her grandfather's 90th birthday celebration. When her grandfather is murdered, she vows revenge.
Great main character that you will love.
Great main character that you will love.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was so fun! Jojo was an absolute hoot. She was unhinged and crazy and the best narrator. The story itself was a little predictable but I was willing to look past it due to the characters and their quirks. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
A fun, light hearted book filled with humor in addition to a mystery. Jojo is spending her winter break in snowy North Carolina. When her granddad is found dead she has to solve the mystery of what happened to him.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I saw a review on NetGalley comparing this to Deadlock so I had to request and I was NOT disappointed. This was wildly unhinged in all the best ways. 5/5 Stars.
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