What do you think?
Rate this book
Vanishing Beauties: From the New York Times bestselling author of the Hush, Hush saga!
Not yet published
Expected 31 Dec 26From the
New York Times
bestselling author of the Hush, Hush saga, a dark urban romantasy that questions the true cost of beauty.
A teen beauty queen has vanished from Tea Kettle Island, and all evidence points to the girl’s ex-boyfriend, Sascha Sinner.
With a bounty out on Sascha’s head, seventeen-year-old Bunny decides to go after it – and him. But Sascha insists he didn’t do it, and wants Bunny’s help to prove his innocence.
Her search for the truth takes her to the very edge of the island, into its darkly magical past, revealing secrets the town has tried to push down. There are devilish creatures haunting the woods, a handsome man at the centre of a cult-like following, and a hidden history of missing girls – a history that includes Bunny’s own mother.
Can Bunny figure out who, or what, is taking the girls of Tea Kettle Island, before she is lost herself?
A teen beauty queen has vanished from Tea Kettle Island, and all evidence points to the girl’s ex-boyfriend, Sascha Sinner.
With a bounty out on Sascha’s head, seventeen-year-old Bunny decides to go after it – and him. But Sascha insists he didn’t do it, and wants Bunny’s help to prove his innocence.
Her search for the truth takes her to the very edge of the island, into its darkly magical past, revealing secrets the town has tried to push down. There are devilish creatures haunting the woods, a handsome man at the centre of a cult-like following, and a hidden history of missing girls – a history that includes Bunny’s own mother.
Can Bunny figure out who, or what, is taking the girls of Tea Kettle Island, before she is lost herself?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication December 31, 2026
About the author
Becca Fitzpatrick
28 books32.9k followersBecca Fitzpatrick grew up reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden with a flashlight under the covers. She graduated college with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. When not writing, she's most likely prowling sale racks for reject shoes, running, or watching crime dramas on TV. She is the author of the bestselling HUSH, HUSH Saga. Her new book BLACK ICE arrives in bookstores everywhere October 7, 2014.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Read
April 18, 202612yr old me is actually through the roof to the moon ecstatic that she read an arc of becca fitzpatrick’s newest book🥹🤩 full review tk
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Vanishing Beauties" is the latest romantasy from "Hush, Hush" author, Becca Fitzpatrick. It's a chilling thriller with an atmospheric setting.
When Tea Kettle Island's pageant queen, Mae Careless, vanishes, local outcast Bunny joins the search. She chases suspect Sascha Sinner, in pursuit of the $15,000 bounty on him. Along the way, Bunny finds herself caught in the island's web of deceit, one her past may be tied to.
Fitzpatrick truly shines at plot and pacing. She builds the tension steadily while keeping the story moving. There's a haunting atmosphere to the book. It has the feel of an old Western movie crossed with a gothic horror novel. The combination is fresh and compelling.
Fitzpatrick takes familiar tropes and puts her own unique spin on them. The story feels elevated, although there were a few moments I predicted. Tea Kettle Island has an immersive feel to it. Fitzpatrick does a great job detailing the setting to pull the reader in. The suspense and tension develop naturally as the story unfolds.
Fitzpatrick gives enough backstory get the reader invested in the characters while deliberately leaving some information out. This leaves room for a sequel. The last 50 pages were packed with twists and hinted at the future of the series.
This chilling romantasy mashup brings all of Fitzpatrick's signatures: intriguing characters, compelling romances, and a dark, immersive setting. It's definitely worth picking up, especially if you're a fan of Fitzpatrick's previous books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
When Tea Kettle Island's pageant queen, Mae Careless, vanishes, local outcast Bunny joins the search. She chases suspect Sascha Sinner, in pursuit of the $15,000 bounty on him. Along the way, Bunny finds herself caught in the island's web of deceit, one her past may be tied to.
Fitzpatrick truly shines at plot and pacing. She builds the tension steadily while keeping the story moving. There's a haunting atmosphere to the book. It has the feel of an old Western movie crossed with a gothic horror novel. The combination is fresh and compelling.
Fitzpatrick takes familiar tropes and puts her own unique spin on them. The story feels elevated, although there were a few moments I predicted. Tea Kettle Island has an immersive feel to it. Fitzpatrick does a great job detailing the setting to pull the reader in. The suspense and tension develop naturally as the story unfolds.
Fitzpatrick gives enough backstory get the reader invested in the characters while deliberately leaving some information out. This leaves room for a sequel. The last 50 pages were packed with twists and hinted at the future of the series.
This chilling romantasy mashup brings all of Fitzpatrick's signatures: intriguing characters, compelling romances, and a dark, immersive setting. It's definitely worth picking up, especially if you're a fan of Fitzpatrick's previous books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you are interested in this book expecting it to be just like “Hush, Hush,” then you might be a little disappointed. However, if enjoy supernatural mysteries, creepy small towns, dark fairy tales, suspiciously charming boys, missing girls, and protagonists who refuse to mind their own business, definitely give “Vanishing Beauties” a try. I have missed Fitzpatrick’s writing, and this book did not disappoint.
This story follows seventeen-year-old Bunny after a teen beauty queen, Mae Careless, mysteriously disappears from the island. Everyone seems convinced that Mae’s ex-boyfriend, Sascha Sinner, is responsible, and there’s even a $15,000 bounty on his head. Naturally, Bunny decides that chasing down Sascha sounds like a great way to make some money. Except Sascha insists he’s innocent, and Bunny soon realizes there is way more going on than a simple missing-person case.
I really loved the atmosphere in this book. Tea Kettle Island is basically the perfect creepy small-town setting, complete with strange superstitions, suspicious townspeople, mysterious forests, old stories about devils and bargains, and a history of girls disappearing. It has this really fun combination of gothic horror, dark fairy tale, and old Western vibes that somehow works ridiculously well. I could practically feel the fog rolling through the woods while reading this.
And then you throw in supernatural creatures, cult-like behavior, and the possibility that the fairy tales Bunny grew up hearing might actually be true? Yes; give me all of it.
The mystery was definitely the strongest part for me. Fitzpatrick does a great job giving you just enough information to start forming theories, while also holding back enough that you’re constantly questioning what you actually know. Who is taking the girls? Can Bunny trust Sascha? Can she trust anyone on this island? And what does her own family history have to do with everything happening?
I had a few things figured out along the way, but there were still plenty of twists that caught me off guard. The final stretch especially goes full chaos. The last 50-ish pages are basically twist after twist after twist. It was definitely very entertaining.
Bunny was also a fun protagonist. She’s feisty, determined, sarcastic, and definitely not someone who is going to sit around waiting for other people to solve the mystery for her. I didn't always feel like I completely understood her, but I still found myself rooting for her, and some of her internal thoughts gave me a better sense of why she behaves the way she does.
I also enjoyed the humor and sarcasm sprinkled throughout the darker moments. The book can get creepy and unsettling, but it doesn't take itself so seriously that there isn't room for some fun banter.
Where I was a little more conflicted was the romance. There are some enemies-to-lovers vibes and plenty of banter, but I personally wasn't completely sold on the chemistry. I wanted more tension and emotional depth, because the romance felt a little underdeveloped compared with the much stronger mystery and supernatural storyline.
The pacing was also a little uneven. The beginning takes some time to get moving, and the middle dragged for me in places. But once the stakes really start climbing, this book becomes hard to put down. The final third absolutely made up for the slower sections.
I also appreciated that Fitzpatrick doesn't explain every single thing. There are definitely some unanswered questions and pieces of the island's history that feel deliberately held back, which makes me suspect there could be more to come. And honestly, I'm okay with that because I would absolutely return to this weird little island of supernatural secrets.
Overall, “Vanishing Beauties” was a moody, creepy, twisty YA romantasy with an incredibly atmospheric setting and a mystery that kept me guessing. I can’t wait to read more from Fitzpatrick.
If you are interested in this book expecting it to be just like “Hush, Hush,” then you might be a little disappointed. However, if enjoy supernatural mysteries, creepy small towns, dark fairy tales, suspiciously charming boys, missing girls, and protagonists who refuse to mind their own business, definitely give “Vanishing Beauties” a try. I have missed Fitzpatrick’s writing, and this book did not disappoint.
This story follows seventeen-year-old Bunny after a teen beauty queen, Mae Careless, mysteriously disappears from the island. Everyone seems convinced that Mae’s ex-boyfriend, Sascha Sinner, is responsible, and there’s even a $15,000 bounty on his head. Naturally, Bunny decides that chasing down Sascha sounds like a great way to make some money. Except Sascha insists he’s innocent, and Bunny soon realizes there is way more going on than a simple missing-person case.
I really loved the atmosphere in this book. Tea Kettle Island is basically the perfect creepy small-town setting, complete with strange superstitions, suspicious townspeople, mysterious forests, old stories about devils and bargains, and a history of girls disappearing. It has this really fun combination of gothic horror, dark fairy tale, and old Western vibes that somehow works ridiculously well. I could practically feel the fog rolling through the woods while reading this.
And then you throw in supernatural creatures, cult-like behavior, and the possibility that the fairy tales Bunny grew up hearing might actually be true? Yes; give me all of it.
The mystery was definitely the strongest part for me. Fitzpatrick does a great job giving you just enough information to start forming theories, while also holding back enough that you’re constantly questioning what you actually know. Who is taking the girls? Can Bunny trust Sascha? Can she trust anyone on this island? And what does her own family history have to do with everything happening?
I had a few things figured out along the way, but there were still plenty of twists that caught me off guard. The final stretch especially goes full chaos. The last 50-ish pages are basically twist after twist after twist. It was definitely very entertaining.
Bunny was also a fun protagonist. She’s feisty, determined, sarcastic, and definitely not someone who is going to sit around waiting for other people to solve the mystery for her. I didn't always feel like I completely understood her, but I still found myself rooting for her, and some of her internal thoughts gave me a better sense of why she behaves the way she does.
I also enjoyed the humor and sarcasm sprinkled throughout the darker moments. The book can get creepy and unsettling, but it doesn't take itself so seriously that there isn't room for some fun banter.
Where I was a little more conflicted was the romance. There are some enemies-to-lovers vibes and plenty of banter, but I personally wasn't completely sold on the chemistry. I wanted more tension and emotional depth, because the romance felt a little underdeveloped compared with the much stronger mystery and supernatural storyline.
The pacing was also a little uneven. The beginning takes some time to get moving, and the middle dragged for me in places. But once the stakes really start climbing, this book becomes hard to put down. The final third absolutely made up for the slower sections.
I also appreciated that Fitzpatrick doesn't explain every single thing. There are definitely some unanswered questions and pieces of the island's history that feel deliberately held back, which makes me suspect there could be more to come. And honestly, I'm okay with that because I would absolutely return to this weird little island of supernatural secrets.
Overall, “Vanishing Beauties” was a moody, creepy, twisty YA romantasy with an incredibly atmospheric setting and a mystery that kept me guessing. I can’t wait to read more from Fitzpatrick.
October 27, 2026
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.
What initially interested me about this book was its title—Vanishing Beauties—followed by the gorgeous cover and the interesting premise. I am also familiar with the Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick, and I wanted to see how this book would compare.
Vanishing Beauties does not disappoint. It follows Bunny, a seventeen-year-old living in a lighthouse on Tea Kettle Island with her grandmother, Nastunye, while trying to make a living. It’s no secret that Bunny and Nastunye struggle to make ends meet while also being the town outcasts.
The story begins when Mae Careless, a teen beauty queen, goes missing. Her ex-boyfriend, Sascha Sinner, is the number one suspect, and a group known as the Justice Boys are offering a $15,000 reward for his capture. So naturally, Bunny decides she’s going to capture Sascha and turn him in.
What follows is a story full of twists and turns as Sascha and Bunny begin working together to find Mae, in addition to a number of other missing beauty queens. Add in a crooked gym owner—Rook Bell—a scary “beast” who lives in the woods, and magic mirrors, and you’ve got a compelling mystery/fantasy.
I enjoyed this book. Bunny and Sascha were both likeable characters. Rook Bell was intimidating. The beast was scary. And the mirrors added a good twist to the story. I would recommend this book for teens and anyone who has read and enjoyed Becca Fitzpatrick’s previous books. I’m not sure if this book will end up being a series, but if it does, I’d definitely be interested in reading more of Bunny’s story.
What initially interested me about this book was its title—Vanishing Beauties—followed by the gorgeous cover and the interesting premise. I am also familiar with the Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick, and I wanted to see how this book would compare.
Vanishing Beauties does not disappoint. It follows Bunny, a seventeen-year-old living in a lighthouse on Tea Kettle Island with her grandmother, Nastunye, while trying to make a living. It’s no secret that Bunny and Nastunye struggle to make ends meet while also being the town outcasts.
The story begins when Mae Careless, a teen beauty queen, goes missing. Her ex-boyfriend, Sascha Sinner, is the number one suspect, and a group known as the Justice Boys are offering a $15,000 reward for his capture. So naturally, Bunny decides she’s going to capture Sascha and turn him in.
What follows is a story full of twists and turns as Sascha and Bunny begin working together to find Mae, in addition to a number of other missing beauty queens. Add in a crooked gym owner—Rook Bell—a scary “beast” who lives in the woods, and magic mirrors, and you’ve got a compelling mystery/fantasy.
I enjoyed this book. Bunny and Sascha were both likeable characters. Rook Bell was intimidating. The beast was scary. And the mirrors added a good twist to the story. I would recommend this book for teens and anyone who has read and enjoyed Becca Fitzpatrick’s previous books. I’m not sure if this book will end up being a series, but if it does, I’d definitely be interested in reading more of Bunny’s story.
October 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for kindly granting my request for an ARC of Vanishing Beauties!
As a long-time fan of everything Becca Fitzpatrick writes, I was thrilled when it was announced that she had a brand new book forthcoming: a young adult novel, Vanishing Beauties, steeped in the supernatural.
Let me preface this by saying I could not put Vanishing Beauties down!
Fitzpatrick created an incredibly atmospheric small town full of creepy superstitions (making this the perfect October read), townspeople up to no good, mysterious forests, and a strong, feisty protagonist.
The writing is lovely, and the story itself is so twisty and exciting, it will leave you tearing through the pages to find out what exactly is going on in the small island town of Tea Kettle.
Who is behind the disappearing beauty queens? And who can Bunny—our main character—really trust? There’s a mystery here, one that has one foot in the real world and the other in the superstitions that the townspeople feed one another in whispers.
I had so much fun figuring out the big reveal. Every time I turned a page, I was actually letting out a huge GASP, I couldn’t believe the turns the story was taking!!! I also really enjoyed the romance throughout the book, and of course, all the supernatural occurrences.
If there’s one thing that Becca Fitzpatrick does marvelously every time, it’s create a dark-horse character that you can’t help rooting for.
Vanishing Beauties is a moody, fun, and atmospheric novel that I guarantee you’re going to be obsessed with. (I know I am!)
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for kindly granting my request for an ARC of Vanishing Beauties!
As a long-time fan of everything Becca Fitzpatrick writes, I was thrilled when it was announced that she had a brand new book forthcoming: a young adult novel, Vanishing Beauties, steeped in the supernatural.
Let me preface this by saying I could not put Vanishing Beauties down!
Fitzpatrick created an incredibly atmospheric small town full of creepy superstitions (making this the perfect October read), townspeople up to no good, mysterious forests, and a strong, feisty protagonist.
The writing is lovely, and the story itself is so twisty and exciting, it will leave you tearing through the pages to find out what exactly is going on in the small island town of Tea Kettle.
Who is behind the disappearing beauty queens? And who can Bunny—our main character—really trust? There’s a mystery here, one that has one foot in the real world and the other in the superstitions that the townspeople feed one another in whispers.
I had so much fun figuring out the big reveal. Every time I turned a page, I was actually letting out a huge GASP, I couldn’t believe the turns the story was taking!!! I also really enjoyed the romance throughout the book, and of course, all the supernatural occurrences.
If there’s one thing that Becca Fitzpatrick does marvelously every time, it’s create a dark-horse character that you can’t help rooting for.
Vanishing Beauties is a moody, fun, and atmospheric novel that I guarantee you’re going to be obsessed with. (I know I am!)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
When I was in college, I had fallen in love with a fictional angel named Patch - and named my first pet I got on my own after him. (It was a betta fish). So when I saw @becca had a new book, I might have slightly lost my mind. 😆
Anyways this book:
After a teen beauty queen disappears from Tea Kettle Island, Bunny looks for her killer in hope to win the reward money. Instead she finds herself between two boys, a deadly monster and deals with a devil.
VANISHING BEAUTIES is a genre blend - part romance, part fantasy, part horror, part paranormal, but it all worked so well. The pacing was perfect, with the plot continuously moved and the twists were revealed at the perfect time.
There’s definitely a trickle of romance with excellent banter and enemies to lovers tension. There’s a little bit of a triangle going on, but it’s delicious and I found it to have a clear direction!
Perfect for teen readers who enjoy a bit spookier reads!
🎧 This audiobook is narrated by Kimberly Woods was did a lovely job bringing this eerie, atmospheric novel to life!
What You’ll Find:
🤝Reluctant allies
😈Deal with the Devil
💋Deadly devotion to beauty
🖤Dark, immersive setting
🌀Twists
🔥Two morally gray love interests
Anyways this book:
After a teen beauty queen disappears from Tea Kettle Island, Bunny looks for her killer in hope to win the reward money. Instead she finds herself between two boys, a deadly monster and deals with a devil.
VANISHING BEAUTIES is a genre blend - part romance, part fantasy, part horror, part paranormal, but it all worked so well. The pacing was perfect, with the plot continuously moved and the twists were revealed at the perfect time.
There’s definitely a trickle of romance with excellent banter and enemies to lovers tension. There’s a little bit of a triangle going on, but it’s delicious and I found it to have a clear direction!
Perfect for teen readers who enjoy a bit spookier reads!
🎧 This audiobook is narrated by Kimberly Woods was did a lovely job bringing this eerie, atmospheric novel to life!
What You’ll Find:
🤝Reluctant allies
😈Deal with the Devil
💋Deadly devotion to beauty
🖤Dark, immersive setting
🌀Twists
🔥Two morally gray love interests
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 3⭐️
Okay this was a pretty bone-chilling read. The eerie, suspenseful atmosphere had me hooked, and my little detective brain was so thrilled to work overtime.
The beginning was a little slow, and the pacing dragged a bit in the middle. But once the stakes started rising… yuppp, the game was ON. The twisted mystery had me constantly guessing who the culprit was, and honestly, that guessing game was easily my favorite part.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite connect with the characters or the romance. I wanted more depth and layers that would make me genuinely invested in their struggles. And the romance was a little too bland for my liking. The tension and chemistry sadly did not deliver in this one. There was no feast for me to devour. Sighhhh.
Overall, this was an eerie, suspenseful mystery with a pretty engaging guessing game, but the characters and romance didn’t quite work for me.
════════════════════════
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
Okay this was a pretty bone-chilling read. The eerie, suspenseful atmosphere had me hooked, and my little detective brain was so thrilled to work overtime.
The beginning was a little slow, and the pacing dragged a bit in the middle. But once the stakes started rising… yuppp, the game was ON. The twisted mystery had me constantly guessing who the culprit was, and honestly, that guessing game was easily my favorite part.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite connect with the characters or the romance. I wanted more depth and layers that would make me genuinely invested in their struggles. And the romance was a little too bland for my liking. The tension and chemistry sadly did not deliver in this one. There was no feast for me to devour. Sighhhh.
Overall, this was an eerie, suspenseful mystery with a pretty engaging guessing game, but the characters and romance didn’t quite work for me.
════════════════════════
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy
A missing teen beauty queen divides an island community until 17-year-old Bunny sets out to find the culprit--and learns that her gran's fairy tales about a deal-making devil might not be fiction.
Fitzpatrick spends the first two-thirds of this book stacking up her dominoes (with charming enemies-to-lovers banter, escalating tension, and beguiling twists). When they fall in the final third, it's a beautiful thing: a hot mess of a page-turning capstone.
I never questioned where Bunny's romantic feelings were going, but I enjoyed the characters and plotting, and the way Fitzpatrick manipulates fairy tales to explore humanity's dark side.
Fitzpatrick spends the first two-thirds of this book stacking up her dominoes (with charming enemies-to-lovers banter, escalating tension, and beguiling twists). When they fall in the final third, it's a beautiful thing: a hot mess of a page-turning capstone.
I never questioned where Bunny's romantic feelings were going, but I enjoyed the characters and plotting, and the way Fitzpatrick manipulates fairy tales to explore humanity's dark side.
Did Not Finish
November 4, 2026DNF at 25%.
This book is the definition of interesting premise but poor execution. Young adult books are either hit or miss for me and this one ended up missing the mark. It reads on the younger side of the YA spectrum, which I don't normally love. I also could not get over the MMC's nickname being "Sinner." I do think those that like eerie tale and can get over the writing style will definitely enjoy this one!
Thank you to Simon Teen and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
This book is the definition of interesting premise but poor execution. Young adult books are either hit or miss for me and this one ended up missing the mark. It reads on the younger side of the YA spectrum, which I don't normally love. I also could not get over the MMC's nickname being "Sinner." I do think those that like eerie tale and can get over the writing style will definitely enjoy this one!
Thank you to Simon Teen and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"The kind of beauty you want blooms only briefly. It's vanishing beauty."
This was one of the strangest YA missing persons/fantasy books I've read. Set on an island mirroring Never Never Land (with a 'Hook' and 'Justice Boys', the plot has traces of A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER, THE BELLES, and THE STAND.
Read on NetGalley from Simon & Schuster Kids
This was one of the strangest YA missing persons/fantasy books I've read. Set on an island mirroring Never Never Land (with a 'Hook' and 'Justice Boys', the plot has traces of A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER, THE BELLES, and THE STAND.
Read on NetGalley from Simon & Schuster Kids
November 6, 2026
I am not the audience for this book! I think it would be a great YA read for someone younger.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews