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Breakout
‘YA’s biggest stars have written the collab of the year’ – Entertainment Weekly Trapped at a luxurious resort off the coast of Florida, a group of elite teens are about to have a spring break they will never forget … but not all of them are coming home. The star-studded team of authors behind New York Times bestsellers Blackout and Whiteout returns with a thrillerfull of intrigue, betrayal, and heart-stopping romance
For Thurgood Marshall Academy's best and brightest–five friends who've been thick as thieves since kindergarten–this spring break is all about they want nothing more than to wash away last year's tragedy, and the human-shaped hole it left in their friend group.
It's a hole the new kid, Anthony Brooks, seems to fit right into. So when he invites the Five to join him on a private island for a week at his dad's luxury resort, they agree with zero hesitation. No one's counting on a freak tropical storm swooping in and killing the vibe. And speaking of killing, they're also ill-prepared for the mounting collection of dead bodies… including (another) one of their own.
As their dream trip unravels, everything they tried to leave behind–secrets, lies, betrayals, dead best friends–seems to be washing up on the shore of their lives for everyone to see. Will any of them make it out alive?
From the bestselling, award-winning team behind Blackout and Whiteout —Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon—comes a thriller that begs the is it possible to outrun the worst thing you've ever done?
For Thurgood Marshall Academy's best and brightest–five friends who've been thick as thieves since kindergarten–this spring break is all about they want nothing more than to wash away last year's tragedy, and the human-shaped hole it left in their friend group.
It's a hole the new kid, Anthony Brooks, seems to fit right into. So when he invites the Five to join him on a private island for a week at his dad's luxury resort, they agree with zero hesitation. No one's counting on a freak tropical storm swooping in and killing the vibe. And speaking of killing, they're also ill-prepared for the mounting collection of dead bodies… including (another) one of their own.
As their dream trip unravels, everything they tried to leave behind–secrets, lies, betrayals, dead best friends–seems to be washing up on the shore of their lives for everyone to see. Will any of them make it out alive?
From the bestselling, award-winning team behind Blackout and Whiteout —Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon—comes a thriller that begs the is it possible to outrun the worst thing you've ever done?
Audible Audio
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Dhonielle Clayton
38 books2,728 followersDhonielle Clayton is a New York Times bestselling author of The Marvellers series, The Belles series, Shattered Midnight, co-author of Blackout, Whiteout, The Rumor Game, and of the Tiny Pretty Things duology, a Netflix original series. She hails from the Washington, D.C. suburbs on the Maryland side. She taught secondary school for several years, and is a former elementary and middle school librarian. She is COO of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books. She is the President and founder of Cake Creative and Electric Postcard Entertainment, IP story companies creating diverse books for all ages. She’s an avid traveller, and always on the hunt for magic and mischief. Find her on Instagram: @brownbookworm.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
May 29, 2026
What a group of authors! This book is basically about a group of rich kids with powerful parents who’ve known each other since kindergarten, who go on a spring break trip and people start dying. Not the most original concept but usually works! The opening chapter is especially strong. This is the definition of a beach read (engaging, high readability factor) perfect for summer.
Despite this being for a younger audience, certain parts of this book were impressively written. The only thing is, it isn’t really consistent. Which, when you have a big group of authors collaborating on one book, consistency of writing style is hard, so that’s to be expected. It’s never jarring or super obvious, but for example, the intro chapter was so impressively written and the ones following were more generic. Not in a bad way, or anything unlike 95% of everything else out there, but when you have such an expertly written first chapter, you kind of have expectations for how the rest will go, so it feels a bit disconnected when it’s not. But again, this is understandable with so many authors!
I do agree with the other reviews saying there’s too many different POVs. It’s not just with the core group of teens but even random people working the grounds there have a random chapter in their POV. Some of the chapters do show a bit of the darkness and corruption taking place behind the scenes with the staff, and some did make a good addition. But others felt too much like filler. There was also too many time jumps, going from week before to present and without any real pattern. It felt a bit disjointed.
Was this anything ground breaking? Not really. Was the ending something super shocking? Not really. But it was a fun beach read and exactly what you’d expect if looking for a YA thriller. Not a stand out, but an afternoon well spent if you need a fun and mindless beach read!
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Despite this being for a younger audience, certain parts of this book were impressively written. The only thing is, it isn’t really consistent. Which, when you have a big group of authors collaborating on one book, consistency of writing style is hard, so that’s to be expected. It’s never jarring or super obvious, but for example, the intro chapter was so impressively written and the ones following were more generic. Not in a bad way, or anything unlike 95% of everything else out there, but when you have such an expertly written first chapter, you kind of have expectations for how the rest will go, so it feels a bit disconnected when it’s not. But again, this is understandable with so many authors!
I do agree with the other reviews saying there’s too many different POVs. It’s not just with the core group of teens but even random people working the grounds there have a random chapter in their POV. Some of the chapters do show a bit of the darkness and corruption taking place behind the scenes with the staff, and some did make a good addition. But others felt too much like filler. There was also too many time jumps, going from week before to present and without any real pattern. It felt a bit disjointed.
Was this anything ground breaking? Not really. Was the ending something super shocking? Not really. But it was a fun beach read and exactly what you’d expect if looking for a YA thriller. Not a stand out, but an afternoon well spent if you need a fun and mindless beach read!
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
June 20, 2026
A solid YA thriller with plenty of secrets and twists. I enjoyed the characterization in this one—each of the teens is well-fleshed out with realistic motivations. I wasn’t totally surprised by any of the reveals but I was entertained.
Audio was inconsistently narrated imo (some narrators more skilled than others)
Audio was inconsistently narrated imo (some narrators more skilled than others)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
From the authors who brought us Blackout and Whiteout.
🏝️
Five close friends hoping to escape the grief of a past tragedy accept an invitation to a luxury private island for spring break. But when a tropical storm traps them there and bodies begin piling up, their getaway turns deadly. As old secrets and betrayals resurface, the group must figure out who they can trust before none of them make it off the island alive.
🌀
I loved the character development in this one, and the setting/mood were so well done. The isolated island atmosphere mixed with the tension and paranoia made it incredibly immersive. I also really enjoyed how this anthology was different from the previous ones by telling one cohesive story instead of separate connected pieces. It made me so curious about everyone’s writing process and how it all came together so seamlessly. And that twist! The final sentence had me like WHAT?! If there’s ever a fourth book, I’m officially voting for the title Fallout. This YA thriller releases June 2!
CW: death, grief, murder, blackmail, drugs, classism, blood, body horror
🏝️
Five close friends hoping to escape the grief of a past tragedy accept an invitation to a luxury private island for spring break. But when a tropical storm traps them there and bodies begin piling up, their getaway turns deadly. As old secrets and betrayals resurface, the group must figure out who they can trust before none of them make it off the island alive.
🌀
I loved the character development in this one, and the setting/mood were so well done. The isolated island atmosphere mixed with the tension and paranoia made it incredibly immersive. I also really enjoyed how this anthology was different from the previous ones by telling one cohesive story instead of separate connected pieces. It made me so curious about everyone’s writing process and how it all came together so seamlessly. And that twist! The final sentence had me like WHAT?! If there’s ever a fourth book, I’m officially voting for the title Fallout. This YA thriller releases June 2!
CW: death, grief, murder, blackmail, drugs, classism, blood, body horror
June 27, 2026
3.5* The modern day ‘And Then There Were None’ vibes were strong with this one. Despite the ending feeling somewhat unsatisfying, this was overall a very entertaining read. Unsurprisingly, considering the names attached, it was brilliantly written and intensely gripping. I found myself having finished this book in no time at all. I definitely felt more invested in the story, rather than the characters who melded into one another at times but despite this, I still had a lot of fun and would definitely be excited to read more in this series!
June 27, 2026
Too many povs, too many unlikeable characters & too much inconsistency. I love all these authors individually (especially Tiffany D!) but this book just didn’t do it for me. I was glad when it was finally over.
August 6, 2026
3.5
a solid YA suspense novel. It was a quick read and I love an island setting (especially one during a storm), but the ending was a bit predictable and most of the characters were little shits.
a solid YA suspense novel. It was a quick read and I love an island setting (especially one during a storm), but the ending was a bit predictable and most of the characters were little shits.
July 9, 2026
Will you guess the plot? Yes.
Will the characters annoy you at times? Yes.
Does it feel a bit unfinished? Yes.
But its a fast read.
Will the characters annoy you at times? Yes.
Does it feel a bit unfinished? Yes.
But its a fast read.
September 14, 2026
3.5 stars. This hurts, because I was expecting to like it more than I did since I love these authors and the other two books they wrote together. The premise is there but I found myself struggling to keep track of which secret/backstory belonged to which character. This was also another book that could’ve been cut down some
October 14, 2026
This was a really good thriller! Set on a deserted island that has everyone dying one way or another?! Like what? I read this in 3 days would've been 2 but I had work yesterday! Such a quick and fun fast pace read! I loved the mixed meidum aspect of this like with the text messages & newspaper article! A solid 3.5/5 star read!
September 5, 2026
This was so bad. I’m stunned how much I hated all the characters when I usually like unlikeable characters. The characters spent WAYYYYYYYYYYY to much time talking about who they disliked like OMG shut up we get it. They are willing to let one of their ex-friends get murdered cause she broke a pact? It doesn’t make sense. Maybe I’m too nice 🤷🏽♀️. The plot also wasn’t really that good to make up for the characters.
Full review now I’m not mad anymore:
I really didn’t like this book
The biggest issue for me was that the one character I assumed I was supposed to dislike the most ended up being the character I liked the most.
I really related to Noelle’s longing to be liked, so watching everyone constantly dislike her was honestly SO uncomfortable to read. That said, I also didn’t really understand her character or her motivations. Like… why did she write that article?!
I also wish the book had explored more of an us vs. them mentality between the Black characters and the rest of the people on the island. There’s a point where they acknowledge that, regardless of how wealthy they are, they wouldn’t necessarily receive the same grace as white characters, so seeing them turn on each other throughout the book was pretty disheartening. At the same time, I understand why they did it because that’s how they were raised. I just wish the story had gone further into exploring how their parents shaped those beliefs and what it would look like for them to break free from that.
And honestly… I just didn’t understand the beef with Noelle. 😂 Yes, she’s annoying, but I needed more substantial reasons for everyone to complain about her CONSTANTLY. It became wayyyyy too much.
I also guessed the ending, and unfortunately, I only really enjoyed 2/5 of the main POVs.
Overall, this one just wasn’t for me. 😬
Full review now I’m not mad anymore:
I really didn’t like this book
The biggest issue for me was that the one character I assumed I was supposed to dislike the most ended up being the character I liked the most.
I really related to Noelle’s longing to be liked, so watching everyone constantly dislike her was honestly SO uncomfortable to read. That said, I also didn’t really understand her character or her motivations. Like… why did she write that article?!
I also wish the book had explored more of an us vs. them mentality between the Black characters and the rest of the people on the island. There’s a point where they acknowledge that, regardless of how wealthy they are, they wouldn’t necessarily receive the same grace as white characters, so seeing them turn on each other throughout the book was pretty disheartening. At the same time, I understand why they did it because that’s how they were raised. I just wish the story had gone further into exploring how their parents shaped those beliefs and what it would look like for them to break free from that.
And honestly… I just didn’t understand the beef with Noelle. 😂 Yes, she’s annoying, but I needed more substantial reasons for everyone to complain about her CONSTANTLY. It became wayyyyy too much.
I also guessed the ending, and unfortunately, I only really enjoyed 2/5 of the main POVs.
Overall, this one just wasn’t for me. 😬
June 10, 2026
My theory was part right, like I knew it would be! (I had known there would be more to it than I’d figured out.) The authors described these characters as “messy” and whooo is that right?! I was hooked to the story and wanting to figure out everything that happened. I do have some questions that weren’t quite clear to me. Also, I think I like exactly zero of these characters! Y’all were the worst, in like a “This is a train wreck and I can’t look away!” kind of way. Murder mysteries aren’t my jam, but it’s nice to change up my reading and give something new a try every once in awhile. Overall, I’d say go ahead and grab this one if you like Whiteout and Blackout, but know the vibe is soo different.
July 22, 2026
3.875 ⭐️ I should’ve known with Tiffany D Jackson as a writer this book was going to end with me regretting all my thoughts during the book. I figure out most the twist except for that last one! Had me feeling bad for the girl… SMH Tiffany said.. SIKE.
July 1, 2026
This is a decent YA thriller that will probably have the most appeal within the intended age group.
I didn't realize that this was the third book in the YA thriller/romance series that is being collaboratively written by an ensemble of bestselling authors: Tiffany D. Jackson, Dhonielle Clayton, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. Instead of having each author pen their own book, they split up the chapters within each novel. An author takes control of a character's voice before shifting it to someone else. I was worried that this approach might lead to some choppy dialogue or a scattered narrative, but it ended up being pretty seamless. Each book can be read as a standalone.
Breakout follows six wealthy, privileged teens from an elite high school who climb aboard a yacht heading to a private island resort. The group is still dealing with the fallout from the death of one of their peers one year prior. The dream getaway quickly turns into a nightmare as a freak storm approaches and cuts the group off from the mainland. When the bodies start to pile up, it becomes apparent that everyone has dark secrets and the killer is probably one of their own.
Many thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC. The audio was a little hit or miss for me, but I appreciated that it had a full-cast narration. It really helped give each character a unique voice and allowed me to tell them all apart. A solid read for teens and tweens who are ready to suspend disbelief and enjoy thrillers with lots of emotional drama. 3.25 stars
I didn't realize that this was the third book in the YA thriller/romance series that is being collaboratively written by an ensemble of bestselling authors: Tiffany D. Jackson, Dhonielle Clayton, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. Instead of having each author pen their own book, they split up the chapters within each novel. An author takes control of a character's voice before shifting it to someone else. I was worried that this approach might lead to some choppy dialogue or a scattered narrative, but it ended up being pretty seamless. Each book can be read as a standalone.
Breakout follows six wealthy, privileged teens from an elite high school who climb aboard a yacht heading to a private island resort. The group is still dealing with the fallout from the death of one of their peers one year prior. The dream getaway quickly turns into a nightmare as a freak storm approaches and cuts the group off from the mainland. When the bodies start to pile up, it becomes apparent that everyone has dark secrets and the killer is probably one of their own.
Many thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC. The audio was a little hit or miss for me, but I appreciated that it had a full-cast narration. It really helped give each character a unique voice and allowed me to tell them all apart. A solid read for teens and tweens who are ready to suspend disbelief and enjoy thrillers with lots of emotional drama. 3.25 stars
March 19, 2026
Thank you Quill Tree Books and Netgalley for the eARC!
Spring break was supposed to be a reset… not a body count. 😳🌴
Five friends. One tragedy they never got over. And a brand-new guy who fits into their group a little too perfectly…
When Anthony invites them to a private island getaway at his family’s luxury resort, it feels like the escape they’ve been desperate for. No drama. No memories. Just sun, ocean, and a fresh start.
Until the storm hits. ⛈️
And then… the bodies start showing up.
One by one, secrets they buried last year start washing ashore—lies, betrayals, and the truth about the friend they lost. And now? It’s happening again.
Trust no one.
Leave nothing buried.
Because this island? It remembers everything.
Who’s making it off alive… and who was never meant to? 👀🔪
Twists, turns, and surprises at every part of this story. LIke one of the characters says: "Nobody really knows anybody else because we are too busy trying to manage what other people think." Clayton/Jackson/Stone/Thomas/Woodfolk/Yoon knock it out of the park with this nonstop, heart pounding and sometimes "heart-wrenching" story of betrayal, deceit and oneupmanship. A very interesting cast of characters, compared to the characters in the two previous books by these amazing writers. The reader never knows who to truly trust. It's five, or six, if you count Ant, extremely unreliable narrators, who are so full of animosity against one another that they cannot see the trouble brewing right in front of their faces. If you like stories in the vein of One of Us Is Back, this one is for you!
Spring break was supposed to be a reset… not a body count. 😳🌴
Five friends. One tragedy they never got over. And a brand-new guy who fits into their group a little too perfectly…
When Anthony invites them to a private island getaway at his family’s luxury resort, it feels like the escape they’ve been desperate for. No drama. No memories. Just sun, ocean, and a fresh start.
Until the storm hits. ⛈️
And then… the bodies start showing up.
One by one, secrets they buried last year start washing ashore—lies, betrayals, and the truth about the friend they lost. And now? It’s happening again.
Trust no one.
Leave nothing buried.
Because this island? It remembers everything.
Who’s making it off alive… and who was never meant to? 👀🔪
Twists, turns, and surprises at every part of this story. LIke one of the characters says: "Nobody really knows anybody else because we are too busy trying to manage what other people think." Clayton/Jackson/Stone/Thomas/Woodfolk/Yoon knock it out of the park with this nonstop, heart pounding and sometimes "heart-wrenching" story of betrayal, deceit and oneupmanship. A very interesting cast of characters, compared to the characters in the two previous books by these amazing writers. The reader never knows who to truly trust. It's five, or six, if you count Ant, extremely unreliable narrators, who are so full of animosity against one another that they cannot see the trouble brewing right in front of their faces. If you like stories in the vein of One of Us Is Back, this one is for you!
April 30, 2026
I really wanted to love Breakout. Like… this author lineup? I was already sold. And don’t get me wrong, I had a good time, but this one landed at a 3 stars for me.
The setup is so my vibe: rich teens, private island, secrets, a storm rolling in, and bodies starting to drop?? Yeah, I was locked in. The drama, the mess, the tension in this friend group… that part hit. You can feel each author’s touch. But… the POVs started doing a little too much. I get why it was structured that way, but it felt like I never got to fully settle into any one character before we were switching again. Instead of adding depth, it kind of pulled me out of the story at times.
And the ending? That’s where it really slipped for me. After all that buildup, I needed more. More time, more fallout, more something. It just wrapped up way too fast for everything that was going on.
I’m still going to show up every time for Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, no question. And if you like messy friend groups, high-stakes drama, and a thriller you can fly through, you’ll still probably enjoy this one.
It just didn’t hit as hard as I wanted it to.
The setup is so my vibe: rich teens, private island, secrets, a storm rolling in, and bodies starting to drop?? Yeah, I was locked in. The drama, the mess, the tension in this friend group… that part hit. You can feel each author’s touch. But… the POVs started doing a little too much. I get why it was structured that way, but it felt like I never got to fully settle into any one character before we were switching again. Instead of adding depth, it kind of pulled me out of the story at times.
And the ending? That’s where it really slipped for me. After all that buildup, I needed more. More time, more fallout, more something. It just wrapped up way too fast for everything that was going on.
I’m still going to show up every time for Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, no question. And if you like messy friend groups, high-stakes drama, and a thriller you can fly through, you’ll still probably enjoy this one.
It just didn’t hit as hard as I wanted it to.
August 24, 2026
2.5
Compared to the two other books these authors have created together, Breakout just falls completely flat unfortunately. Unrealistic, and a little messy tbh. I think YA suspense is a great genre, but it’s not a few of these authors strong suits, and I think that’s where the disconnect is.
Compared to the two other books these authors have created together, Breakout just falls completely flat unfortunately. Unrealistic, and a little messy tbh. I think YA suspense is a great genre, but it’s not a few of these authors strong suits, and I think that’s where the disconnect is.
June 19, 2026
Breakout is a compelling collaboration that exemplifies the power of collective storytelling by some of the most talented Black authors working today. Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon come together to craft a riveting thriller packed with intrigue, betrayal, and heart-pounding romance, all set against the luxurious yet ominous backdrop of a private island off the Florida coast.
What impresses most about this novel is how seamlessly these authors' voices intertwine, creating a cohesive narrative that is both engaging and emotionally charged. Each chapter feels authentic to its respective voice, yet contributes to the larger, suspenseful tapestry of the story. The collaboration highlights not only their individual strengths but also how powerful they are collectively—delivering a story that is as intense as it is thought-provoking.
The story itself is a rollercoaster of tension, mystery, and secrets. A group of talented teens, all connected through their past tragedies and present secrets, find themselves trapped on an island during a freak tropical storm. The stakes escalate quickly as bodies begin to pile up and the line between friend and foe blurs. The sense of danger is palpable, and the mystery behind each death keeps you guessing until the very last page. I appreciated how the narrative explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the scars of past trauma, making the suspense feel even more visceral.
As someone who loves reading works by Black authors, I found Breakout to be a shining example of how Black voices can lead in the thriller and mystery genres while also highlighting the complexity of their characters beyond stereotypes. The characters are multi-dimensional, flawed, and relatable, which adds layers to the story’s emotional depth. This book is a prime example of how diverse voices can elevate genre fiction, and I sincerely hope we see more collaborations like this in the future.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I am giving it 4 stars because there were moments where some plot twists felt slightly predictable, and I wished for a bit more development in certain character arcs. Nevertheless, the pacing is excellent, and the tension never wanes, making it a page-turner from start to finish.
Breakout is a masterful blend of suspense, romance, and social commentary, brought to life by an all-star team of authors who showcase the richness of Black storytelling. It’s a thrilling, emotionally resonant read that I highly recommend. I look forward to more collaborations like this from these talented writers—they truly know how to keep us on the edge of our seats.
What impresses most about this novel is how seamlessly these authors' voices intertwine, creating a cohesive narrative that is both engaging and emotionally charged. Each chapter feels authentic to its respective voice, yet contributes to the larger, suspenseful tapestry of the story. The collaboration highlights not only their individual strengths but also how powerful they are collectively—delivering a story that is as intense as it is thought-provoking.
The story itself is a rollercoaster of tension, mystery, and secrets. A group of talented teens, all connected through their past tragedies and present secrets, find themselves trapped on an island during a freak tropical storm. The stakes escalate quickly as bodies begin to pile up and the line between friend and foe blurs. The sense of danger is palpable, and the mystery behind each death keeps you guessing until the very last page. I appreciated how the narrative explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the scars of past trauma, making the suspense feel even more visceral.
As someone who loves reading works by Black authors, I found Breakout to be a shining example of how Black voices can lead in the thriller and mystery genres while also highlighting the complexity of their characters beyond stereotypes. The characters are multi-dimensional, flawed, and relatable, which adds layers to the story’s emotional depth. This book is a prime example of how diverse voices can elevate genre fiction, and I sincerely hope we see more collaborations like this in the future.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I am giving it 4 stars because there were moments where some plot twists felt slightly predictable, and I wished for a bit more development in certain character arcs. Nevertheless, the pacing is excellent, and the tension never wanes, making it a page-turner from start to finish.
Breakout is a masterful blend of suspense, romance, and social commentary, brought to life by an all-star team of authors who showcase the richness of Black storytelling. It’s a thrilling, emotionally resonant read that I highly recommend. I look forward to more collaborations like this from these talented writers—they truly know how to keep us on the edge of our seats.
June 19, 2026
Thurgood Marshall Academy was ruled by a clique of the richest, brightest, & well-connected students nicknamed 'The Six': six friends who did everything together until the death of one of the group last year, Keisha, which caused seismic fractures of the friendships. Noelle is now on the outside after the betrayal of talking to a reporter about Keisha's death, River feels torn over whether or not to make a move on friend (& Keisha's boyfriend at the time) Quintin, whilst Sydney & Dwayne are drawn to each other but their families' rival politics make it impossible to be together.
The only person keeping the group together at the moment is newcomer, Anthony Brooks. Anthony is dating Noelle but invites the whole group to celebrate spring break at a newly refurbished hotel on an island owned by his father. They expect fun, sun, & partying not a tropical storm & several deaths. As things start to unravel, the secrets everyone is keeping rise to the surface & some of them could be deadly.
This is a YA mystery thriller with a diverse cast & multiple authors, unfortunately it was way too easy to work out what was going on. The multi-author aspect partly worked although it felt quite choppy to read rather than flowing in natural narrative. It was kind of fun though to see the fall out from the previous year take its toll on each one of them as none of them were particularly sympathetic characters so I wasn't rooting for any for them.
The main issues were that I felt that the murder side of things was a little unrealistic (), & the reveal was obvious. It's adequately entertaining but I found it lacking in some areas.
SUMMARY:
Plot: OK - It was way too easy to work out what was going on.
Writing Style: Good - The multi-author thing meant that it felt quite choppy to read rather than flowing.
Enjoyment Level: Moderately High - Reveal was obvious & all of the characters were very unsympathetic so I didn’t root for any of them tbh.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Farshore/Electric Monkey, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
The only person keeping the group together at the moment is newcomer, Anthony Brooks. Anthony is dating Noelle but invites the whole group to celebrate spring break at a newly refurbished hotel on an island owned by his father. They expect fun, sun, & partying not a tropical storm & several deaths. As things start to unravel, the secrets everyone is keeping rise to the surface & some of them could be deadly.
This is a YA mystery thriller with a diverse cast & multiple authors, unfortunately it was way too easy to work out what was going on. The multi-author aspect partly worked although it felt quite choppy to read rather than flowing in natural narrative. It was kind of fun though to see the fall out from the previous year take its toll on each one of them as none of them were particularly sympathetic characters so I wasn't rooting for any for them.
The main issues were that I felt that the murder side of things was a little unrealistic (), & the reveal was obvious. It's adequately entertaining but I found it lacking in some areas.
SUMMARY:
Plot: OK - It was way too easy to work out what was going on.
Writing Style: Good - The multi-author thing meant that it felt quite choppy to read rather than flowing.
Enjoyment Level: Moderately High - Reveal was obvious & all of the characters were very unsympathetic so I didn’t root for any of them tbh.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Farshore/Electric Monkey, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
June 19, 2026
My Selling Pitch:
Absolutely idiotic YA thriller
On my do not read list.
Pre-reading:
I picked this up because I heard good things about Tiffany D. Jackson’s writing, and I figured this would be a good way to get a taste of a bunch of different authors.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
I know I’m probably reading too much into it, but if it’s storming and the detective’s already sunburned, he didn’t just get there.
It’s already reminding me of Five Survive
You know, it’s really annoying that his name is Quintin, which means five, but then his nickname is Quatro, which means four.
YA quirky writing is EXHAUSTING.
Really hate when YA books sexualize teenagers like this. He’s 17. Don’t tell me about his tight end.
Hungry hummingbird is diabolical.
I wonder if someone’s gonna get concrete shoes?
I thought there was a pretty big argument that comparing skin color to food is offensive. I don’t share this belief, but I’m surprised all six of these authors are chill with it.
So much of this book is overwritten cringe. What do you mean, guava-colored pillows? Like grow up.
I fucking love hamachi crudo, but you can’t make a meal out of it.
As a reminder in memorial is redundant as hell. Just say in memorium of Key.
This reads like bad Gossip Hirl/ Pretty Little Liars fanfic.
I have a hard, hard time believing cops would be allowed to speak to these nepo babies without a lawyer present.
I know this is written by multiple authors, but holy fuck, I find this writing style obnoxious. Especially these River chapters. Channel her mother, fuck offff.
They’re rich enough that he has an iCloud backup of his phone. Be so for real right now. Also, there’s no way he doesn’t have blackmail stored on multiple devices.
I don’t like this book. I’ve totally checked out.
So help me god, if there’s a secret baby in this book because of her heterochromia, and they’re like look, she got one eye from one parent and one from the other!
And why does the general manager have the same sunburnt nose as the detective? Coincidence? I think not! (I am wrong.)
I wonder if that’s a nod to The Westing Game’s Turtle.
So she’s a ripoff Bailey Sarian gossip column for her school.
I’m supposed to believe a luxury resort like this doesn’t have a security feed on the pool?
I feel like they set it up where you can only drink from your one cup to pointedly poison someone.
Really harping on the sunburn.
Sausage casing dresses is never complementary.
Acab, baby.
They have obliterated these crime scenes to the point that they’re either not crime scenes or everybody going to jail for obstruction.
Why isn’t it the mess manifest not manifest the mess? Like don’t be stupid.
That is not how the cloud works.
Noelle and River’s characters are way, way too similar. All the characters feel like they have the same generic voice. This book is very bad.
I feel like his necklace has to be a matched set to Key’s bracelet because she’s his secret sister or something.
What is with all the fuckass Christianity in this book?
Oh, come off it. Just write she’s knocking on the door. Stop virtue signaling. You sound ridiculous.
You’re attempting to be a pro football player and you can’t break open a suitcase?
You kiss someone else the night your girlfriend dies? You’re a bad person.
I feel like Anthony isn’t dead and is the one murdering the hotel staff, but I don’t know how he faked his death. But like this has to be some And Then There Were None shit.
Why are we so fixated on his sunburn?
Oh my god, the repetitive writing is making me wanna put my head through the wall.
I’m so over this book. It’s very something’s gonna happen and then nothing actually happens. Everything is completely unbelievable. There’s no functional adults.
The timeline mishmash isn’t adding tension. It’s just unnecessarily convoluted.
But we know Prescott survives to advise her when talking to the cops so-
This is an incredibly idiotic whodunnit.
OK, I said she was related to him. I just thought it would be a closer relation than cousin, but like I’m counting that as correct.
So what was the dirt they got on Dwayne’s dad?
So they don’t release a minor from the hospital without the parents talking to the doctor.
A pool drowning looks very different from towel smothering on autopsy. I’m sure her loaded doctor parents would never get a second opinion about those results. God, this book is stupid!
Post-reading:
Incredible that you have six authors working on this book and not a single one of them or their editors knows how the cloud works. Um, this is too stupid to function. If you throw away any scrap of logic, this is technically readable. It reads like bad Pretty Little Liars or Gossip Girl fanfic. It’s wannabe Holly Jackson. I’m not convinced a single one of these authors has ever stayed at a luxury resort. I think they watched an episode of Zack and Cody and made their villains.
Stylistically, you can spot when different authors take over. One of them needed to be banned from foodie figurative language. The characters are bafflingly flat and all end up reading exactly the same. River and Noelle are the same character to the point it’s laughable. Jumping around in the timeline does nothing for the book’s tension. It’s exhausting to read. It’s unnecessarily convoluted for a mystery you’re gonna open and guess the gist of.
And I can’t stress to you enough how illogical villains’ motivations are. There is not a single functional adult in this story. It’s so beyond the suspension of disbelief, you’re gonna immediately check out.
I literally don’t have a single nice thing to say about this book. I think it’s an embarrassment of a thriller, and if I went solely off of this writing, I would not seek out a single one of these authors again. I don’t think you should read this. Even if you can tolerate a generic whodunnit, this is piss poor work, and stop pushing your toxic religion in YA books.
Who should read this:
Bad YA thriller fans
Ideal reading time:
Summer
Do I want to reread this:
Fuck no
Would I buy this:
No
Similar books:
* Five Survive by Holly Jackson-YA revenge thriller, mystery, family drama
* The Drop by S. R. Masters-revenge thriller, college friends
* Thin Air by Kellie M. Parker-YA revenge thriller, mystery, high schoolers
* She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge-crime procedural, revenge thriller, mystery, high schoolers
* And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie-OG revenge thriller mystery
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Absolutely idiotic YA thriller
On my do not read list.
Pre-reading:
I picked this up because I heard good things about Tiffany D. Jackson’s writing, and I figured this would be a good way to get a taste of a bunch of different authors.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
I know I’m probably reading too much into it, but if it’s storming and the detective’s already sunburned, he didn’t just get there.
It’s already reminding me of Five Survive
You know, it’s really annoying that his name is Quintin, which means five, but then his nickname is Quatro, which means four.
YA quirky writing is EXHAUSTING.
Really hate when YA books sexualize teenagers like this. He’s 17. Don’t tell me about his tight end.
Hungry hummingbird is diabolical.
I wonder if someone’s gonna get concrete shoes?
I thought there was a pretty big argument that comparing skin color to food is offensive. I don’t share this belief, but I’m surprised all six of these authors are chill with it.
So much of this book is overwritten cringe. What do you mean, guava-colored pillows? Like grow up.
I fucking love hamachi crudo, but you can’t make a meal out of it.
As a reminder in memorial is redundant as hell. Just say in memorium of Key.
This reads like bad Gossip Hirl/ Pretty Little Liars fanfic.
I have a hard, hard time believing cops would be allowed to speak to these nepo babies without a lawyer present.
I know this is written by multiple authors, but holy fuck, I find this writing style obnoxious. Especially these River chapters. Channel her mother, fuck offff.
They’re rich enough that he has an iCloud backup of his phone. Be so for real right now. Also, there’s no way he doesn’t have blackmail stored on multiple devices.
I don’t like this book. I’ve totally checked out.
So help me god, if there’s a secret baby in this book because of her heterochromia, and they’re like look, she got one eye from one parent and one from the other!
And why does the general manager have the same sunburnt nose as the detective? Coincidence? I think not! (I am wrong.)
I wonder if that’s a nod to The Westing Game’s Turtle.
So she’s a ripoff Bailey Sarian gossip column for her school.
I’m supposed to believe a luxury resort like this doesn’t have a security feed on the pool?
I feel like they set it up where you can only drink from your one cup to pointedly poison someone.
Really harping on the sunburn.
Sausage casing dresses is never complementary.
Acab, baby.
They have obliterated these crime scenes to the point that they’re either not crime scenes or everybody going to jail for obstruction.
Why isn’t it the mess manifest not manifest the mess? Like don’t be stupid.
That is not how the cloud works.
Noelle and River’s characters are way, way too similar. All the characters feel like they have the same generic voice. This book is very bad.
I feel like his necklace has to be a matched set to Key’s bracelet because she’s his secret sister or something.
What is with all the fuckass Christianity in this book?
Oh, come off it. Just write she’s knocking on the door. Stop virtue signaling. You sound ridiculous.
You’re attempting to be a pro football player and you can’t break open a suitcase?
You kiss someone else the night your girlfriend dies? You’re a bad person.
I feel like Anthony isn’t dead and is the one murdering the hotel staff, but I don’t know how he faked his death. But like this has to be some And Then There Were None shit.
Why are we so fixated on his sunburn?
Oh my god, the repetitive writing is making me wanna put my head through the wall.
I’m so over this book. It’s very something’s gonna happen and then nothing actually happens. Everything is completely unbelievable. There’s no functional adults.
The timeline mishmash isn’t adding tension. It’s just unnecessarily convoluted.
But we know Prescott survives to advise her when talking to the cops so-
This is an incredibly idiotic whodunnit.
OK, I said she was related to him. I just thought it would be a closer relation than cousin, but like I’m counting that as correct.
So what was the dirt they got on Dwayne’s dad?
So they don’t release a minor from the hospital without the parents talking to the doctor.
A pool drowning looks very different from towel smothering on autopsy. I’m sure her loaded doctor parents would never get a second opinion about those results. God, this book is stupid!
Post-reading:
Incredible that you have six authors working on this book and not a single one of them or their editors knows how the cloud works. Um, this is too stupid to function. If you throw away any scrap of logic, this is technically readable. It reads like bad Pretty Little Liars or Gossip Girl fanfic. It’s wannabe Holly Jackson. I’m not convinced a single one of these authors has ever stayed at a luxury resort. I think they watched an episode of Zack and Cody and made their villains.
Stylistically, you can spot when different authors take over. One of them needed to be banned from foodie figurative language. The characters are bafflingly flat and all end up reading exactly the same. River and Noelle are the same character to the point it’s laughable. Jumping around in the timeline does nothing for the book’s tension. It’s exhausting to read. It’s unnecessarily convoluted for a mystery you’re gonna open and guess the gist of.
And I can’t stress to you enough how illogical villains’ motivations are. There is not a single functional adult in this story. It’s so beyond the suspension of disbelief, you’re gonna immediately check out.
I literally don’t have a single nice thing to say about this book. I think it’s an embarrassment of a thriller, and if I went solely off of this writing, I would not seek out a single one of these authors again. I don’t think you should read this. Even if you can tolerate a generic whodunnit, this is piss poor work, and stop pushing your toxic religion in YA books.
Who should read this:
Bad YA thriller fans
Ideal reading time:
Summer
Do I want to reread this:
Fuck no
Would I buy this:
No
Similar books:
* Five Survive by Holly Jackson-YA revenge thriller, mystery, family drama
* The Drop by S. R. Masters-revenge thriller, college friends
* Thin Air by Kellie M. Parker-YA revenge thriller, mystery, high schoolers
* She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge-crime procedural, revenge thriller, mystery, high schoolers
* And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie-OG revenge thriller mystery
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2026
Breakout 🌴⛈️Review ✨ Thank you Partner @epicreads and Harper Audio Childrens for the gifted copy and audiobook!
Breakout
by Dhonielle Clayton; Tiffany D. Jackson; Nic Stone; Angie Thomas; Ashley Woodfolk; Nicola Yoon
Narrated by Amber Dekkers; Korey Jackson; Marcella Cox; Kevin R. Free; James Fouhey; Liz Femi; Cary Hite
out now!
Five friends hoping to leave behind a year marked by tragedy accept an invitation to spend spring break at a luxury resort on a private island. But when a tropical storm cuts them off from the outside world and bodies begin turning up, their dream vacation quickly becomes a nightmare.
As secrets, lies, and old betrayals surface, the group must confront the past they’ve been trying to escape—before they become the next victims.
My thoughts 💭:
This was such a fun audiobook and definitely kept me on my toes. I listened to this one on audio, and the cast did an amazing job bringing the story to life. With multiple perspectives, timelines, and a fairly large cast of characters, this is a book that requires your attention but the payoff is there. There were several times I thought I had things figured out only to have the story throw me another curveball. One thing I always enjoy is a story about rich people behaving badly, and this book delivered on that front. Between the secrets, betrayals, privilege, and drama, there was never a dull moment. Then you have a remote island setting and a growing body count, making it a recipe for an entertaining thriller. If you’re looking for an audiobook that is twisty, suspenseful, and packed with drama, this one is definitely worth picking up. Just make sure you’re paying attention!
Happy reading 🎧📖🔪🌴⛈️
Breakout
by Dhonielle Clayton; Tiffany D. Jackson; Nic Stone; Angie Thomas; Ashley Woodfolk; Nicola Yoon
Narrated by Amber Dekkers; Korey Jackson; Marcella Cox; Kevin R. Free; James Fouhey; Liz Femi; Cary Hite
out now!
Five friends hoping to leave behind a year marked by tragedy accept an invitation to spend spring break at a luxury resort on a private island. But when a tropical storm cuts them off from the outside world and bodies begin turning up, their dream vacation quickly becomes a nightmare.
As secrets, lies, and old betrayals surface, the group must confront the past they’ve been trying to escape—before they become the next victims.
My thoughts 💭:
This was such a fun audiobook and definitely kept me on my toes. I listened to this one on audio, and the cast did an amazing job bringing the story to life. With multiple perspectives, timelines, and a fairly large cast of characters, this is a book that requires your attention but the payoff is there. There were several times I thought I had things figured out only to have the story throw me another curveball. One thing I always enjoy is a story about rich people behaving badly, and this book delivered on that front. Between the secrets, betrayals, privilege, and drama, there was never a dull moment. Then you have a remote island setting and a growing body count, making it a recipe for an entertaining thriller. If you’re looking for an audiobook that is twisty, suspenseful, and packed with drama, this one is definitely worth picking up. Just make sure you’re paying attention!
Happy reading 🎧📖🔪🌴⛈️
July 23, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ Ok this was a quick read I enjoyed it. It was a lot of POVs and characters 🥴 yall know me when it’s too many ppl on the group chat lmao i get overstimulated 😫🤣 now Although this book came out before, it just felt like I was reading The Nolan Wells case. I was just all over the place and really deep in thought with the magnitude privileged kids can go to cover up a crime. *sigh* overall i predicted the ending but not the twist before. This was a great YA I’d recommend to entry thriller readers.
June 22, 2026
3.5 overall
I agree with a lot of the reviewers in that there's some places the writing is a little inconsistent. But man, the opening line of this book? Beautiful.
I hated everyone in this book. Which, you really shouldn't like teens. They're all selfish and exhausting, and that comes across here.
The ending is rushed and there's a few things that don't make sense, but overall enjoyed.
I agree with a lot of the reviewers in that there's some places the writing is a little inconsistent. But man, the opening line of this book? Beautiful.
I hated everyone in this book. Which, you really shouldn't like teens. They're all selfish and exhausting, and that comes across here.
The ending is rushed and there's a few things that don't make sense, but overall enjoyed.
August 2, 2026
Blackout and Whiteout were better, but I still enjoyed this and really appreciate the work these authors have done on all of these stories! I actually found it harder to follow the storyline this time because it was the same story from different POVs rather than separate stories during the same event like the last two books. Overall, it was still a good thriller and engaged me the entire time! Lots of twists and turns perfect for a teen audience.
August 28, 2026
Via Audiobook. I really liked the concept of this book, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I just thought that all the characters were kinda insufferable and I also got overwhelmed by the amount of POVs. It’s not uncommon for me to get confused between characters and unfortunately this was another one of those situations
October 5, 2026
wow okay im really shocked. this is not something i would pick up lowkey but it was pretty good! i was not expecting the plot twist so that was nice. i liked how the characters were very well established and the pov switches were good but i had to lock in and keep up. this is why we dont date within friend groups and this is why you dont do drugs and drink alcohol, people!!!!!! i kinda wanted more closure with the other characters but idk. rhis would make for a really good movie actually. my actual rating is 3.5 ok? I am excited to see the author tomorrow and get my book signed and miss 6th period👀👀👀👀
June 4, 2026
I loved the idea of this book! Six teens go to a secluded island for spring break because…you know, they’re rich…but people start dying and a literal storm is on its way.
The I also LOVED that every character is Black. There are six main characters and a dual timeline, so quite a bit to keep track of, especially since I was listening to the audiobook. The full cast made things easier to follow, but it did take some time to get my bearings, so to speak. None of these characters are really likable, but this is never an issue for me. Makes things juicy and is real.
There’s a lot of teen drama and angst, which fits well in a YA book. I also was intrigued by the mystery surrounding past events as well as the current one. I was surprised by some of the reveals, BUT…
…the ending, imo, is a mess. Everything feels frantically resolved. There’s a big twist in the epilogue, which…I don’t know, maybe is a me thing, but for one this big it felt far too late. I really think this book suffers from pacing issues, which is probably the result of six authors. Also, because there are so many writers assumedly writing a designated character, the story feels a bit disjointed at times, which is a reasonable issue but an issue nonetheless.
I was really enjoying the story, but ultimately I think the ending fumbles. I was looking forward to everything coming together, but was still left with questions because things weren’t cleanly wrapped up.
🎧I love a good full cast audiobook! I didn’t have issues with most of the performances, but certain narrators sounded to me like adults vs teens, so maybe were not the best fit for their role. Even so, I sill think it’s worth listening to if you can handle an audiobook with lots of POVs.
The I also LOVED that every character is Black. There are six main characters and a dual timeline, so quite a bit to keep track of, especially since I was listening to the audiobook. The full cast made things easier to follow, but it did take some time to get my bearings, so to speak. None of these characters are really likable, but this is never an issue for me. Makes things juicy and is real.
There’s a lot of teen drama and angst, which fits well in a YA book. I also was intrigued by the mystery surrounding past events as well as the current one. I was surprised by some of the reveals, BUT…
…the ending, imo, is a mess. Everything feels frantically resolved. There’s a big twist in the epilogue, which…I don’t know, maybe is a me thing, but for one this big it felt far too late. I really think this book suffers from pacing issues, which is probably the result of six authors. Also, because there are so many writers assumedly writing a designated character, the story feels a bit disjointed at times, which is a reasonable issue but an issue nonetheless.
I was really enjoying the story, but ultimately I think the ending fumbles. I was looking forward to everything coming together, but was still left with questions because things weren’t cleanly wrapped up.
🎧I love a good full cast audiobook! I didn’t have issues with most of the performances, but certain narrators sounded to me like adults vs teens, so maybe were not the best fit for their role. Even so, I sill think it’s worth listening to if you can handle an audiobook with lots of POVs.
July 13, 2026
Very action packed
August 3, 2026
3.5⭐️! This was a fun, twisty read but the ending was a bit lacking
Loved the setting and the premise but didn’t empathise with any of the characters sadly
Loved the setting and the premise but didn’t empathise with any of the characters sadly
September 12, 2026
My favorite collab of these six authors so far! What a thriller. It kept me on my toes until the very last sentence. Crazy twists!
July 6, 2026
This book was a really slow burn. I only liked the last 30 mins of the book. It was really difficult to keep up with all the characters and the story was kind of choppy. I liked the idea behind the story but not the plot or the delivery.
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