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Dead Girls
Two starred reviews!
The teen daughter of an infamous serial killer must prove she isn’t the one behind recent copycat murders in this “tongue-in-cheek” (Booklist, starred review) graphic novel that’s a campy, feminist send-up of slashers that both celebrates and subverts classic tropes.
In the cozy town of Clossdale, a serial killer rampages! Five girls missing in as many weeks! Bodies turning up on the forest floor! And all fingers point to one vile Ash Hargreeves.
Except Ash didn’t do it. She may be the daughter of the infamous Clossdale Killer, and these copycat killings aren’t exactly convincing proof of her innocence—and okay, she’s kind of a weirdo who has two friends total, but when the murders strike a little too close to home, Ash decides to take a stand.
With the help of her besties, Ash is going to hunt down the killer, clear her mother’s name, and stop there from being any more dead girls—now and forever. After all, what would Jamie Lee Curtis do?
The teen daughter of an infamous serial killer must prove she isn’t the one behind recent copycat murders in this “tongue-in-cheek” (Booklist, starred review) graphic novel that’s a campy, feminist send-up of slashers that both celebrates and subverts classic tropes.
In the cozy town of Clossdale, a serial killer rampages! Five girls missing in as many weeks! Bodies turning up on the forest floor! And all fingers point to one vile Ash Hargreeves.
Except Ash didn’t do it. She may be the daughter of the infamous Clossdale Killer, and these copycat killings aren’t exactly convincing proof of her innocence—and okay, she’s kind of a weirdo who has two friends total, but when the murders strike a little too close to home, Ash decides to take a stand.
With the help of her besties, Ash is going to hunt down the killer, clear her mother’s name, and stop there from being any more dead girls—now and forever. After all, what would Jamie Lee Curtis do?
328 pages, Hardcover
Published September 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
October 11, 2026
This was so much fun! I loved the girl power and found family elements to it. And it was queer characters paradise with some EDS disability rep too. This has a sapphic romance at its core.
It also has its silly fun moments, where it plays on slasher stereotypes, among other jokes.
Girly pop Cassie was my favourite character! She was so fiercely loyal, and advocates for all rights. But she can absolutely carve one into you if you deserve it too.
You need to go with the flow of the plot and it'll work for you. Don't take it too seriously and lean into the genre. You'll have a good time for sure. The plot escalated a lot at the end there.
The artwork is really colourful, bright and playful with their expressions.
It's also complete as a standalone which I loved. What a debut graphic novel, and I can't wait to see what comes next from Beck Kubrick!
It also has its silly fun moments, where it plays on slasher stereotypes, among other jokes.
Girly pop Cassie was my favourite character! She was so fiercely loyal, and advocates for all rights. But she can absolutely carve one into you if you deserve it too.
You need to go with the flow of the plot and it'll work for you. Don't take it too seriously and lean into the genre. You'll have a good time for sure. The plot escalated a lot at the end there.
The artwork is really colourful, bright and playful with their expressions.
It's also complete as a standalone which I loved. What a debut graphic novel, and I can't wait to see what comes next from Beck Kubrick!
October 22, 2026
A fun thrilling ride, had to look away from the more... bloody parts (wasn't too much gory detail but was enough for me) but had fun reading 😀.
One scene dunno if I should have laughed at but had to read it again because it was so awesome!
The humor and snark here was top notch and Cassie had me snickering the most 🤣.
The villain reveal wasn't super surprising but it was done in a way that didn’t pull me out of the story.
Would recommend 👌 👍🏼 👏.
A good spooky 👻 season read definitely 👍🏼.
One scene dunno if I should have laughed at but had to read it again because it was so awesome!
The humor and snark here was top notch and Cassie had me snickering the most 🤣.
The villain reveal wasn't super surprising but it was done in a way that didn’t pull me out of the story.
Would recommend 👌 👍🏼 👏.
A good spooky 👻 season read definitely 👍🏼.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
LOVE!!! If you want a fun, queer, feminist slasher graphic novel for teens with disability rep, Dead Girls is exactly what you're looking for! Ash has grown up in foster care after her teen mom killed a bunch of girls and then died in a house she set on fire. She is infamous in her small town, and now that girls are turning up dead yet again, she's a suspect. But she's going to find out the truth and survive while doing it.
Ash is understandably angry, but also in love with her best friend, the daughter of the police officer harassing her. This has found family, danger, gore, and taking down the patriarchy. In terms of disability rep, one of Ash's foster siblings is a non-binary teen with Ehlers Danlos syndrome. I had a great time reading this! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Ash is understandably angry, but also in love with her best friend, the daughter of the police officer harassing her. This has found family, danger, gore, and taking down the patriarchy. In terms of disability rep, one of Ash's foster siblings is a non-binary teen with Ehlers Danlos syndrome. I had a great time reading this! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
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April 2, 2026If you liked Scream Queens (especially the over-the-top, lose-your-mind-at-the-sheer-idiocy-of-characters humor), this will appeal to you.
If you don't....then this might not be the graphic novel for you. 🤷♀️
If you don't....then this might not be the graphic novel for you. 🤷♀️
September 25, 2026
Slashers met een dash of humour.. yes please!
In deze graphic novel worden meerdere tekenstijlen gebruikt en verschillende soorten kaders en indelingen. Dat maakt het wel echt een vlotte read, lekker afwisselend ook. Plottwistje hier en een grapje daar. Geweldige sfeer, hier vlieg je door heen!
Verder is het ook echt een spannende graphic novel. Ik heb 'm rap uitgelezen want ik moest gewoon weten hoe het zou aflopen na elke twist. Ook een paar keer hardop gelachen. Die zus ook.. badass en al. GEWELDIG.
Aanradertje! 5 sterren!
In deze graphic novel worden meerdere tekenstijlen gebruikt en verschillende soorten kaders en indelingen. Dat maakt het wel echt een vlotte read, lekker afwisselend ook. Plottwistje hier en een grapje daar. Geweldige sfeer, hier vlieg je door heen!
Verder is het ook echt een spannende graphic novel. Ik heb 'm rap uitgelezen want ik moest gewoon weten hoe het zou aflopen na elke twist. Ook een paar keer hardop gelachen. Die zus ook.. badass en al. GEWELDIG.
Aanradertje! 5 sterren!
October 10, 2026
I am not really a horror movie fan, and am even less of a slasher fan, but wow did I have fun reading 'Dead Girls' by Beck Kubrick.
It is an affectionate parody and homage to the genre, with a feminist's knife edge and twist, and if you don't like it, deal with it. Something like this was long overdue. It is a story that needs to be told.
It is like 'Scream', and 'Black Christmas' (2019), only without any supernatural elements. Come and fight me.
The patriarchal tree (and pyramidscheme scam), and its toxic, poisonous roots in misogyny - delusional, desperate, violent misogyny - is more frightening and deadly than any slasher killer.
The defiant 'Dead Girls' is a coming-of-age slasher-survival flick in comic book form, about Ashley "Ash" Hargreeves, a traumatised, haunted, and depressed teenage daughter of a long-dead female serial killer, "Evil Evelyn". Her miserable life in the miserable, judgemental town of Clossdale, which has a history of killing more "witches" than Salem, is slowly, surely, eerily creeped on, then upended by a copycat killer of her mum, who has already brutally murdered five girls.
Throughout the bloody and gory terror of one night, it all comes to a showdown: It is Ash - and her bubbly, influencer foster sister Cassie, her female/enby friend Jamie (who has hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), her secret girlfriend Heather, and the true crime podcaster Naomi Dinkley - vs a cult of male serial killers of girls.
It is Ash and the (Not Evil, Not Dead) Girls.
I won't dare spoil much more, but (un)safe to say, not everything is as it seems.
Not everyone is as they seem...
'Dead Girls' is OTT, balls-to-the-walls hilarious as well as scary and shocking. I adore the flawed, often hilarious yet realistic characters. I love how strong and brave Ash is, in spite of her self-hatred, suicidal ideation, and self-imposed loneliness. Cassie is also great, and she shows just how far from the shallow, helpless dumb blonde stereotype she in fact is; the type of girl ("virginal" or not) who tends to die first in slasher films. But Cassie will say fuck that, and still be her lovable, charming, goofy, cute, sweet and innocent self; a social media influencer who will end you if you cut her pretty face or hair, or threaten her friends and found (foster) family. Jamie, Heather, Naomi, and other "outsider" and "weirdo" "dead girls" have their share of highlights and are incredibly brave, to boot.
The artwork is amazing, colourful, dark and shadowy in the right places, expressive, kind of manga-esque, and absolutely wild and bonkers in some parts. It is all the more gorgeous for it. It shows how creative the comic - the entire medium of comics - can and should be.
There is LBGTQIA+ and POC rep, and giant fuck-you vibes towards rich and powerful straight white men (pretty much the only good white man in 'Dead Girls' is Ernie, Ash's friend who was also her mother's friend, and who is homeless, and full of complexities).
There is nooooooot any love for furries and furry-adjacents in this comic, however. Even the dedication at the beginning makes a playful apology to them. I certainly have nothing against people who may call themselves furries. Like whatever you like, it's none of my business. As long as they're not hurting anyone, I don't want to judge anyone, or kink-shame. And I've never known a woman attracted to the male form who hasn't had a thing for Disney's foxy Robin Hood at some point in their lives, myself included. Taste is relative, fluid, everchanging, and really random, you know. So to see "furries" - who might not even be that - be demonised and dehumanised in 'Dead Girls', even in a silly, parodic way, is strange and disturbing. And hypocritical.
Another feature that stopped me from loving this comic completely is the inferred suggestion at the very end: "No, actually, smoking might save your life!". Ridiculous parody facet or not (it borders on slasher slapstick here), there is no planet or plane that exists where I will endorse that sort of message, ever.
Yet I can't help adoring this slasher feminist comic!
I am usually against violence in any context, and 'Dead Girls' is a very violent and dark comic... but it is utterly, infectiously, perversely and pervasively fun, funny, sad, heartbreaking, and clever, containing masterful artwork and characterisations.
There is so much angry and cathartic female rage, pain and joy to 'Dead Girls', you gotta love its passion and ambition.
Through the violence (mostly self-defence on the girls' end) and deliberately silly and cringey comedy, it exposes one ultimate, universal truth; a message that everyone should listen to:
Listen to women and girls.
And fuck the patriarchy. It is an insidious, global-takeover cult that enjoys victimising women and girls in every possible way. Take it down, by any means necessary.
Happy Halloween!
Final Score: 4/5
It is an affectionate parody and homage to the genre, with a feminist's knife edge and twist, and if you don't like it, deal with it. Something like this was long overdue. It is a story that needs to be told.
It is like 'Scream', and 'Black Christmas' (2019), only without any supernatural elements. Come and fight me.
The patriarchal tree (and pyramid
The defiant 'Dead Girls' is a coming-of-age slasher-survival flick in comic book form, about Ashley "Ash" Hargreeves, a traumatised, haunted, and depressed teenage daughter of a long-dead female serial killer, "Evil Evelyn". Her miserable life in the miserable, judgemental town of Clossdale, which has a history of killing more "witches" than Salem, is slowly, surely, eerily creeped on, then upended by a copycat killer of her mum, who has already brutally murdered five girls.
Throughout the bloody and gory terror of one night, it all comes to a showdown: It is Ash - and her bubbly, influencer foster sister Cassie, her female/enby friend Jamie (who has hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), her secret girlfriend Heather, and the true crime podcaster Naomi Dinkley - vs a cult of male serial killers of girls.
It is Ash and the (Not Evil, Not Dead) Girls.
I won't dare spoil much more, but (un)safe to say, not everything is as it seems.
Not everyone is as they seem...
'Dead Girls' is OTT, balls-to-the-walls hilarious as well as scary and shocking. I adore the flawed, often hilarious yet realistic characters. I love how strong and brave Ash is, in spite of her self-hatred, suicidal ideation, and self-imposed loneliness. Cassie is also great, and she shows just how far from the shallow, helpless dumb blonde stereotype she in fact is; the type of girl ("virginal" or not) who tends to die first in slasher films. But Cassie will say fuck that, and still be her lovable, charming, goofy, cute, sweet and innocent self; a social media influencer who will end you if you cut her pretty face or hair, or threaten her friends and found (foster) family. Jamie, Heather, Naomi, and other "outsider" and "weirdo" "dead girls" have their share of highlights and are incredibly brave, to boot.
The artwork is amazing, colourful, dark and shadowy in the right places, expressive, kind of manga-esque, and absolutely wild and bonkers in some parts. It is all the more gorgeous for it. It shows how creative the comic - the entire medium of comics - can and should be.
There is LBGTQIA+ and POC rep, and giant fuck-you vibes towards rich and powerful straight white men (pretty much the only good white man in 'Dead Girls' is Ernie, Ash's friend who was also her mother's friend, and who is homeless, and full of complexities).
There is nooooooot any love for furries and furry-adjacents in this comic, however. Even the dedication at the beginning makes a playful apology to them. I certainly have nothing against people who may call themselves furries. Like whatever you like, it's none of my business. As long as they're not hurting anyone, I don't want to judge anyone, or kink-shame. And I've never known a woman attracted to the male form who hasn't had a thing for Disney's foxy Robin Hood at some point in their lives, myself included. Taste is relative, fluid, everchanging, and really random, you know. So to see "furries" - who might not even be that - be demonised and dehumanised in 'Dead Girls', even in a silly, parodic way, is strange and disturbing. And hypocritical.
Another feature that stopped me from loving this comic completely is the inferred suggestion at the very end: "No, actually, smoking might save your life!". Ridiculous parody facet or not (it borders on slasher slapstick here), there is no planet or plane that exists where I will endorse that sort of message, ever.
Yet I can't help adoring this slasher feminist comic!
I am usually against violence in any context, and 'Dead Girls' is a very violent and dark comic... but it is utterly, infectiously, perversely and pervasively fun, funny, sad, heartbreaking, and clever, containing masterful artwork and characterisations.
There is so much angry and cathartic female rage, pain and joy to 'Dead Girls', you gotta love its passion and ambition.
Through the violence (mostly self-defence on the girls' end) and deliberately silly and cringey comedy, it exposes one ultimate, universal truth; a message that everyone should listen to:
Listen to women and girls.
And fuck the patriarchy. It is an insidious, global-takeover cult that enjoys victimising women and girls in every possible way. Take it down, by any means necessary.
Happy Halloween!
Final Score: 4/5
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
9/17/2026 I am HIGH KEY obsessed with Cassie. Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
9/21/2026 Y'all, I would kill to protect Cassie. When Ash Hargreeves, the heroine of this YA graphic novel, calls her foster sister "terminally delightful," she is being 100% accurate, as Cassie is the absolute best no matter what life and serial killers try to throw at her. I love her and want to embody her positive spirit as much as humanly possible.
But this is not a book entirely about Cassie, amazing as she is. By contrast, Ash is the perpetually angry seventeen year-old whose choices as to whom to trust may seem tenuous at best. But can you blame her? When she was a little girl, her mother committed some of the most horrific serial killings the small town of Clossdale had ever seen. After slaughtering five other young women, "Evil Evelyn" perished in a fire that almost killed her daughter as well. Ash has been in foster care ever since. She doesn't really trust her foster parents -- and she definitely doesn't trust the system -- but she believes in Cassie and in their other best friend Jamie, whose own less than awesome home situation prompts Jamie to spend as much time at Ash and Cassie' place as possible.
When girls start dying in the woods around Clossdale thirteen years after Evelyn's initial rampage, suspicions almost inevitably turn to her maladjusted daughter. Ash knows she didn't do it, but that doesn't mean that someone isn't targeting some of the most rich and popular girls of their high school. The sheriff has made little secret of the fact that she believes that Ash has "bad blood" running through her. But when the girl Ash has fallen for disappears, and the killer seems to be hunting Ash next, will she be able to tap into the killer instinct she allegedly inherited from her mom in order to save the day and stop the real murderer?
Dead Girls is already incredibly clever as far as horror comics go, but then adds in some of the best characterizations I've ever encountered in the graphic novel format. Ash's anger can be as off-putting as her stubborn beliefs, but the people who know her trust her for good reason. The dialog between her, Cassie and Jamie especially rings incredibly true of contemporary teenage voices. I was once an angry teenager too, and while I've learned to not lash out at people, it's very clear that Ash is just a kid who is doing her best in the face of barely imaginable horrors. More importantly, the ways that the book deals with her underlying impulses and depicts the power of friendship and the value of social justice make this a must-read for anyone who gives a shit about teenagers and where we're going as a society.
The art is also superlative, primarily in the expressiveness it gives its characters. It's not the most sophisticated or innovative work -- backgrounds get sketchier as the book progresses, and I got lost twice when the girls transitioned from location to location -- but the colors are exceptional and the action propulsive. The contrast between gore and cuteness was also charming in a way that made total sense. The opening and closing splash pages in particular were absolutely wonderful.
Beck Kubrick is incredibly talented and I can't wait to read more of their work. Of the 194 books I've read this year so far (I know, it's been a slow year for me what with the fatigue,) this is absolutely in my Top 10.
Dead Girls by Beck Kubrick will be published tomorrow September 22 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and is available for pre-order from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
9/21/2026 Y'all, I would kill to protect Cassie. When Ash Hargreeves, the heroine of this YA graphic novel, calls her foster sister "terminally delightful," she is being 100% accurate, as Cassie is the absolute best no matter what life and serial killers try to throw at her. I love her and want to embody her positive spirit as much as humanly possible.
But this is not a book entirely about Cassie, amazing as she is. By contrast, Ash is the perpetually angry seventeen year-old whose choices as to whom to trust may seem tenuous at best. But can you blame her? When she was a little girl, her mother committed some of the most horrific serial killings the small town of Clossdale had ever seen. After slaughtering five other young women, "Evil Evelyn" perished in a fire that almost killed her daughter as well. Ash has been in foster care ever since. She doesn't really trust her foster parents -- and she definitely doesn't trust the system -- but she believes in Cassie and in their other best friend Jamie, whose own less than awesome home situation prompts Jamie to spend as much time at Ash and Cassie' place as possible.
When girls start dying in the woods around Clossdale thirteen years after Evelyn's initial rampage, suspicions almost inevitably turn to her maladjusted daughter. Ash knows she didn't do it, but that doesn't mean that someone isn't targeting some of the most rich and popular girls of their high school. The sheriff has made little secret of the fact that she believes that Ash has "bad blood" running through her. But when the girl Ash has fallen for disappears, and the killer seems to be hunting Ash next, will she be able to tap into the killer instinct she allegedly inherited from her mom in order to save the day and stop the real murderer?
Dead Girls is already incredibly clever as far as horror comics go, but then adds in some of the best characterizations I've ever encountered in the graphic novel format. Ash's anger can be as off-putting as her stubborn beliefs, but the people who know her trust her for good reason. The dialog between her, Cassie and Jamie especially rings incredibly true of contemporary teenage voices. I was once an angry teenager too, and while I've learned to not lash out at people, it's very clear that Ash is just a kid who is doing her best in the face of barely imaginable horrors. More importantly, the ways that the book deals with her underlying impulses and depicts the power of friendship and the value of social justice make this a must-read for anyone who gives a shit about teenagers and where we're going as a society.
The art is also superlative, primarily in the expressiveness it gives its characters. It's not the most sophisticated or innovative work -- backgrounds get sketchier as the book progresses, and I got lost twice when the girls transitioned from location to location -- but the colors are exceptional and the action propulsive. The contrast between gore and cuteness was also charming in a way that made total sense. The opening and closing splash pages in particular were absolutely wonderful.
Beck Kubrick is incredibly talented and I can't wait to read more of their work. Of the 194 books I've read this year so far (I know, it's been a slow year for me what with the fatigue,) this is absolutely in my Top 10.
Dead Girls by Beck Kubrick will be published tomorrow September 22 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and is available for pre-order from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am typically not a graphic novel reader when it comes to YA, especially digitally, but I was intrigued by the description of this one. So I was pleased to receive a complimentary copy from Simon Teen via NetGalley to read ahead of publication.
I’m used to middle grade graphic novels, so this was definitely eye-opening with the jump in mature content. It was absolutely age-appropriate for older teens and younger teens who can handle the swearing and gore, of which there is plenty. I do read a lot of YA, which funny enough doesn’t usually include a ton of swearing save for the occasional utterance, so the language being thrown at me right out of the gate took me a bit to get used to.
The story was easy to follow, which was a strength. I found it fairly predictable, but I’m thinking that’s partly the nature of the genre, as it can be harder to keep things hidden when so much is visually depicted. The artwork is great and really carries the prose, while the color palette gives the entire storyline such a great ambiance.
I also loved that it paid homage to the teen slasher films of the past while still feeling accessible to today’s audience. I think this could be a great choice for slasher and horror fans who may be reluctant readers and could be the thing that gets them hooked on reading.
So while there are definitely some content warnings I would give to the younger end of the YA age range, for older teens who enjoy graphic novels, especially those with a love for slashers and horror, I would absolutely recommend giving this one a try.
I’m used to middle grade graphic novels, so this was definitely eye-opening with the jump in mature content. It was absolutely age-appropriate for older teens and younger teens who can handle the swearing and gore, of which there is plenty. I do read a lot of YA, which funny enough doesn’t usually include a ton of swearing save for the occasional utterance, so the language being thrown at me right out of the gate took me a bit to get used to.
The story was easy to follow, which was a strength. I found it fairly predictable, but I’m thinking that’s partly the nature of the genre, as it can be harder to keep things hidden when so much is visually depicted. The artwork is great and really carries the prose, while the color palette gives the entire storyline such a great ambiance.
I also loved that it paid homage to the teen slasher films of the past while still feeling accessible to today’s audience. I think this could be a great choice for slasher and horror fans who may be reluctant readers and could be the thing that gets them hooked on reading.
So while there are definitely some content warnings I would give to the younger end of the YA age range, for older teens who enjoy graphic novels, especially those with a love for slashers and horror, I would absolutely recommend giving this one a try.
October 23, 2026
Graphic novels have not always been what I reach for when I'm in a horror mood, but over the years that's definitely been changing! As someone who simply cannot do horror movies, there's just something about finally being able to *see* the horror on the page that's a fun deviation from my standard. Also, the artwork is always incredible and adds another layer to the story.
Beck Kubrick's Dead Girls was perfect for this spooky season, but still had a level of humor that kept it from being outright terrifying. More upsetting in a "can't women catch a break" kind of way. Which is, of course, it's own type of horror in this day and age...
Filled with found family and strong female characters, but also murder and a surprising amount of furry mentions, I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a good final girl story.
Other horror graphic novels I've enjoyed:
🔪 Strange Cases by RiotBones
🔪 Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young
🔪 Through the Woods by Emily Carroll
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the finished copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Beck Kubrick's Dead Girls was perfect for this spooky season, but still had a level of humor that kept it from being outright terrifying. More upsetting in a "can't women catch a break" kind of way. Which is, of course, it's own type of horror in this day and age...
Filled with found family and strong female characters, but also murder and a surprising amount of furry mentions, I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a good final girl story.
Other horror graphic novels I've enjoyed:
🔪 Strange Cases by RiotBones
🔪 Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young
🔪 Through the Woods by Emily Carroll
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the finished copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The book, Dead Girls starts off introducing the main character who is the daughter of a convicted murderer. She is now being accused of repeating her predecessor’s actions, and is now on the hunt to prove her innocence and catch the bad guys at the same time. Along with her and her friends, they uncover secrets that maybe shouldn’t have been revealed and mysterious people who might be behind all of this. With the sense of mystery in the air and the tension throughout the story, I would highly recommend this to anyone who are fans of a sort of mix between a cozy mystery with a tad bit of humor and some thriller in there.
Dead Girls was an entertaining book to read. The art was so diverse and funny, it truly put the book on a whole 'nother level. The characters just seemed to leap off of the pages and come into real life. Personally, I loved the humor that was embedded in the overall mystery of the plot. The main characters had a brilliant dynamic that added to all the little funny parts scattered throughout the book
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Teen for the ARC
Dead Girls was an entertaining book to read. The art was so diverse and funny, it truly put the book on a whole 'nother level. The characters just seemed to leap off of the pages and come into real life. Personally, I loved the humor that was embedded in the overall mystery of the plot. The main characters had a brilliant dynamic that added to all the little funny parts scattered throughout the book
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Teen for the ARC
October 10, 2026
THIS WAS SO FUN! But also very emotional! The balance between moving moments and humour was done wonderfully. I gasped out loud at one bit (got a lil attached to some of the characters) and then some bits gave me such a chuckle I had to message my friends about it. At the beginning I didn't too much of Cassie but I think she's actually my favourite character! Her humour and the change of art style in some of the scenes absolutely made it. Having the ultra-cute artwork and use of Dr. Almondbutter (I won't tell you who this is) juxtaposed with a really dark scene was really comedically clever in my mind. This was just a great time with fun humour but surrounding a dark theme.
I'd say this is for fans of gorgeous art styles, final girls, Scream Queens and found family
I'd say this is for fans of gorgeous art styles, final girls, Scream Queens and found family
October 30, 2026
a murder mystery/thriller plot with comedic writing and adorable illustrations! the perfect graphic novel for spooky season!
thank you Simon Teen for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!!
I’ve been slowly dipping my toe into graphic novels, and Dead Girls is most definitely a new favorite! The humor is so witty and the main characters are endearing — a wonderful balance of comedy and emotion! also, the thriller plot was so fun! I did not want to set the book down!!
if you’ve been thinking of trying out graphic novels and/or you’re a big comedy horror fan, I highly recommend!!!
read if you love:
+ graphic novels
+ comedy horror/thriller
+ sapphic romance
+ found family
+ murder mystery
+ girl bosses
thank you Simon Teen for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!!
I’ve been slowly dipping my toe into graphic novels, and Dead Girls is most definitely a new favorite! The humor is so witty and the main characters are endearing — a wonderful balance of comedy and emotion! also, the thriller plot was so fun! I did not want to set the book down!!
if you’ve been thinking of trying out graphic novels and/or you’re a big comedy horror fan, I highly recommend!!!
read if you love:
+ graphic novels
+ comedy horror/thriller
+ sapphic romance
+ found family
+ murder mystery
+ girl bosses
October 30, 2026
This was an interesting little graphic novel. I really enjoyed the slasher elements and scenes, almost a little too much. What can I say, I'm a sucker for slasher stories. The representation (LGBTQ+ and disability) was well done and did not seem contrived, as it sometimes can. The graphics...oh, the graphics and colors were surely a standout. Found family is a strong element in this graphic novel, and I really loved the friend group. I could have done without some of the profranity, but I get that it IS how teenagers, especially older teenagers, speak, whether I want them to or not. Hahaha. I def think this graphic novel would be a great one for teen horror lovers who like a little bit of goofiness thrown in from time to time. Well done for a debut!
October 1, 2026
I loved the artistry in this!!! The illustrations so perfectly captured the characters energy with how the art drastically changed during different scenes. I also loved the dialogue, it perfectly delivered the campy, horror comedy that I love so much in movies like Bodies, Bodies, Bodies.
October 1, 2026
*3.75 stars
October 2, 2026
feral in the best possible way
November 6, 2026
As a person with hEDS I approve of this representation 😂
October 10, 2026
True crime for teens
October 1, 2026
My son kept coming out to see what was happening while I read Dead Girls. He’d hear me talking to myself, snorting and laughing. He wanted to know what made that happen. I told him to hold his horses and I’d explain after I finished. So, when I was done he sat down to talk about the story. I explained the synopsis. He’s a big fan of the graphic novel series, The Sandman by Neil Gaiman, and when I showed him some of the illustrations he was eager to read the book himself.
We got talking about some points that got the biggest reactions from me. I mentioned the nod to slasher films. We loved Halloween, Scream, Nightmare On Elm Street and many others. How the characters must never have seen those movies and made wrong decisions accordingly. We all know you never leave a room saying I’ll be right back, right? As we continued talking about Dead Girls it took a while for us to realize the discussion had went down the rabbit hole. For example, how Ash is the daughter of a serial killer, but her mother’s the killer not her dad. We then talked about movies with that scenario. That’s just one of many topics we talked about. I love when a read causes fun discussions.
Slasher and horror fans will have a blast with Dead Girls. I did and highly recommend this funny, dramatic graphic novel.
Thanks so much to Simon And Schuster and Author Beck Kubrick for a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
We got talking about some points that got the biggest reactions from me. I mentioned the nod to slasher films. We loved Halloween, Scream, Nightmare On Elm Street and many others. How the characters must never have seen those movies and made wrong decisions accordingly. We all know you never leave a room saying I’ll be right back, right? As we continued talking about Dead Girls it took a while for us to realize the discussion had went down the rabbit hole. For example, how Ash is the daughter of a serial killer, but her mother’s the killer not her dad. We then talked about movies with that scenario. That’s just one of many topics we talked about. I love when a read causes fun discussions.
Slasher and horror fans will have a blast with Dead Girls. I did and highly recommend this funny, dramatic graphic novel.
Thanks so much to Simon And Schuster and Author Beck Kubrick for a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A frantic, punchy romp through a small-town mystery. Sometimes a person's strength comes from the skeletons in their closet. Great for fans of Fear Street!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dead Girls is the kind of graphic novel that horror fans, mystery readers, queer readers, and anyone who has ever yelled “don’t go in there!” at a slasher movie will immediately understand. It has the missing girls, the eerie woods, the suspicious small town, the masked killer energy, and the “everyone thinks they know what happened” atmosphere. But instead of simply repeating the same familiar formula, Kubrick twists it into something sharper, funnier, and much more self-aware.
One of my favorite parts of the book is that Ash is the daughter of a serial killer, but the infamous killer is her mother, not her father. That detail adds such an interesting layer to the slasher satire. So often, stories about serial killers, legacy, and inherited darkness focus on violent fathers and the children left behind in their shadow. By making Ash’s mother the Clossdale Killer, the book immediately shifts the dynamic. It complicates the expectations around motherhood, monstrosity, femininity, and how girls are judged when violence enters the story. Ash is not just trying to prove she did not commit these murders; she is also trying to prove she is more than the worst thing people associate with her family.
That theme of identity is one of the strongest parts of the book. Ash is weird, guarded, funny, and understandably exhausted by the way people look at her. She is also a lesbian, and I loved seeing her queerness be part of her character without the story reducing her to only that. This was such a great read for Pride Month because the LGBTQ+ representation feels natural and meaningful. Ash’s lesbian foster mothers also bring a layer of found family to the story, which balances the bloodier, scarier elements with warmth and emotional grounding. In the middle of murder, suspicion, and chaos, the book still makes room for love, support, and chosen family.
The humor is another huge highlight. Dead Girls is genuinely funny, and not just in a “slasher characters make bad decisions” way. The dialogue is snappy, the timing is great, and the horror references are exactly the kind of thing that made me grin while reading. My personal favorite was the WWJLCD moment: “What Would Jamie Lee Curtis Do?” I am absolutely taking this acronym with me from now on. It feels like a perfect horror-fan spin on WWJD, but instead of asking what the traditionally righteous choice is, you are asking how to face danger with the fierce, practical, no-nonsense survival instincts of the ultimate scream queen and LGBTQ+ advocate. Honestly, in a crisis, calling the police or Jamie Lee Curtis feels like a solid plan.
Dead Girls is fearless, funny, feminist, and full of horror-loving attitude. It is perfect for readers who enjoy Scream, Yellowjackets, campy slashers, queer YA, graphic novels with bite, and stories that can make you laugh right before they make you nervous. Beck Kubrick has created a debut graphic novel that is clever, stylish, suspenseful, and completely entertaining.
I had such a fun time reading this, and I will definitely be recommending it. For me, Dead Girls is a bloody good Pride Month read—and a killer addition to the YA graphic novel shelf.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/ 5
One of my favorite parts of the book is that Ash is the daughter of a serial killer, but the infamous killer is her mother, not her father. That detail adds such an interesting layer to the slasher satire. So often, stories about serial killers, legacy, and inherited darkness focus on violent fathers and the children left behind in their shadow. By making Ash’s mother the Clossdale Killer, the book immediately shifts the dynamic. It complicates the expectations around motherhood, monstrosity, femininity, and how girls are judged when violence enters the story. Ash is not just trying to prove she did not commit these murders; she is also trying to prove she is more than the worst thing people associate with her family.
That theme of identity is one of the strongest parts of the book. Ash is weird, guarded, funny, and understandably exhausted by the way people look at her. She is also a lesbian, and I loved seeing her queerness be part of her character without the story reducing her to only that. This was such a great read for Pride Month because the LGBTQ+ representation feels natural and meaningful. Ash’s lesbian foster mothers also bring a layer of found family to the story, which balances the bloodier, scarier elements with warmth and emotional grounding. In the middle of murder, suspicion, and chaos, the book still makes room for love, support, and chosen family.
The humor is another huge highlight. Dead Girls is genuinely funny, and not just in a “slasher characters make bad decisions” way. The dialogue is snappy, the timing is great, and the horror references are exactly the kind of thing that made me grin while reading. My personal favorite was the WWJLCD moment: “What Would Jamie Lee Curtis Do?” I am absolutely taking this acronym with me from now on. It feels like a perfect horror-fan spin on WWJD, but instead of asking what the traditionally righteous choice is, you are asking how to face danger with the fierce, practical, no-nonsense survival instincts of the ultimate scream queen and LGBTQ+ advocate. Honestly, in a crisis, calling the police or Jamie Lee Curtis feels like a solid plan.
Dead Girls is fearless, funny, feminist, and full of horror-loving attitude. It is perfect for readers who enjoy Scream, Yellowjackets, campy slashers, queer YA, graphic novels with bite, and stories that can make you laugh right before they make you nervous. Beck Kubrick has created a debut graphic novel that is clever, stylish, suspenseful, and completely entertaining.
I had such a fun time reading this, and I will definitely be recommending it. For me, Dead Girls is a bloody good Pride Month read—and a killer addition to the YA graphic novel shelf.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/ 5
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I'll be honest, I picked this one up expecting a fun, gory romp through slasher tropes, and while I absolutely got that, I wasn't prepared for how much this graphic novel would sneak up on me emotionally. Dead Girls is exactly what it promises on the tin a love letter to slasher films but it's the friendship at its center that really got under my skin.
Clossdale is the kind of small town that horror fans will recognize instantly: pretty on the surface, rotten underneath, and apparently cursed with an alarming body count of teenage girls. When a fifth victim turns up, suspicion immediately falls on Ash, the daughter of a notorious serial killer. There's something so viscerally unfair about watching Ash carry the weight of her mother's crimes, and I found myself rooting for her from page one not because she's a perfect heroine, but because she's angry, and she has every right to be.
What really elevates this book is the relationship between Ash, her foster sister Cassie, and her best friend Jamie. Their dynamic feels lived-in and real, full of the kind of prickly, protective love that only exists between teenage girls who've been through too much together. When Ash finds a note warning she's next, the decision for the three of them to investigate themselves isn't just a plot device it's an act of desperation from girls who've learned the hard way that no one else is coming to save them.
If you loved the tangled, slow-burn mystery of Holly Jackson's work, and an eerie, unsettling atmosphere, you'll find familiar comfort here. And if Yellowjackets scratched an itch for feral girlhood colliding with horror, Dead Girls will too. The artwork leans into shadow and suggestion in all the right places, letting dread build rather than relying purely on shock.
As the girls' plan spirals into something far bigger and darker than they anticipated, the book never loses sight of what it's really about: friendship as survival, and the terrifying question of who you can actually trust when everyone around you is a suspect.
This is a graphic novel for anyone who's ever felt like the town was against them, and found their people anyway. Highly recommend curling up with this one, maybe not alone, and maybe not at night.
Clossdale is the kind of small town that horror fans will recognize instantly: pretty on the surface, rotten underneath, and apparently cursed with an alarming body count of teenage girls. When a fifth victim turns up, suspicion immediately falls on Ash, the daughter of a notorious serial killer. There's something so viscerally unfair about watching Ash carry the weight of her mother's crimes, and I found myself rooting for her from page one not because she's a perfect heroine, but because she's angry, and she has every right to be.
What really elevates this book is the relationship between Ash, her foster sister Cassie, and her best friend Jamie. Their dynamic feels lived-in and real, full of the kind of prickly, protective love that only exists between teenage girls who've been through too much together. When Ash finds a note warning she's next, the decision for the three of them to investigate themselves isn't just a plot device it's an act of desperation from girls who've learned the hard way that no one else is coming to save them.
If you loved the tangled, slow-burn mystery of Holly Jackson's work, and an eerie, unsettling atmosphere, you'll find familiar comfort here. And if Yellowjackets scratched an itch for feral girlhood colliding with horror, Dead Girls will too. The artwork leans into shadow and suggestion in all the right places, letting dread build rather than relying purely on shock.
As the girls' plan spirals into something far bigger and darker than they anticipated, the book never loses sight of what it's really about: friendship as survival, and the terrifying question of who you can actually trust when everyone around you is a suspect.
This is a graphic novel for anyone who's ever felt like the town was against them, and found their people anyway. Highly recommend curling up with this one, maybe not alone, and maybe not at night.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a review copy from the publisher through in preparation for a UKYASpotlight post. It has not affected my opinions.
DEAD GIRLS is a graphic novel ode to slasher films. We begin with the mystery of the dead girls and plenty of foreboding - someone else is definitely going to die - but even before we know why people are dying, the slasher-fest begins, and only intensifies once the truth comes out.
Given this is a graphic novel, it could be very visually gross but it's not. Part of that is because, in the biggest slasher-gore scene - the style changes to be chibi-like as one of the characters get scared and basically talks herself into a mindset of "I can do this" by imagining a plushie coming to give her a pep talk. Then the blood is all rainbow arterial spray. It just heightened the over the top nature of a slasher in that moment - and kept it being too gross.
This change in style had been set up previously so it wasn't jarring. The chibi-esque style (I think that's the right reference?) was associated with Ash's foster sister Cass, for example, which reflected her positivity. It was a really effective way of shifting tone momentarily.
As well as being a slasher, it's also a book about family and sisterhood. Ash doesn't believe she's wanted by her foster family and hasn't let herself get truly close to Cass. But now they're on the run from slashers... I really enjoyed the tale of them coming together and Ash deciding she had people in her life she was their ride or die (literally) for. Ash and Cass are the emotional heart of the tale.
It's quite a chonky graphic novel. Most I've read are in the 200-250 range and so end up being episodic, with the story having to be split over multiple instalments. This is 320 pages, so it can fit the entire story in one volume, which is very satisfying. You get the entire tale in one go, no need to wait - and no need for partial conclusions at the end of each volume.
DEAD GIRLS is a graphic novel ode to slasher films. We begin with the mystery of the dead girls and plenty of foreboding - someone else is definitely going to die - but even before we know why people are dying, the slasher-fest begins, and only intensifies once the truth comes out.
Given this is a graphic novel, it could be very visually gross but it's not. Part of that is because, in the biggest slasher-gore scene - the style changes to be chibi-like as one of the characters get scared and basically talks herself into a mindset of "I can do this" by imagining a plushie coming to give her a pep talk. Then the blood is all rainbow arterial spray. It just heightened the over the top nature of a slasher in that moment - and kept it being too gross.
This change in style had been set up previously so it wasn't jarring. The chibi-esque style (I think that's the right reference?) was associated with Ash's foster sister Cass, for example, which reflected her positivity. It was a really effective way of shifting tone momentarily.
As well as being a slasher, it's also a book about family and sisterhood. Ash doesn't believe she's wanted by her foster family and hasn't let herself get truly close to Cass. But now they're on the run from slashers... I really enjoyed the tale of them coming together and Ash deciding she had people in her life she was their ride or die (literally) for. Ash and Cass are the emotional heart of the tale.
It's quite a chonky graphic novel. Most I've read are in the 200-250 range and so end up being episodic, with the story having to be split over multiple instalments. This is 320 pages, so it can fit the entire story in one volume, which is very satisfying. You get the entire tale in one go, no need to wait - and no need for partial conclusions at the end of each volume.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ash Hargreeves is a seventeen-year-old living in a small town with a serial killer on the loose. Five girls have been killed in the past five weeks and the police have their sights set on Ash as the killer. Ash’s mother is notorious around town for being a serial killer many years ago, so everyone in town is convinced that Ash is probably the culprit this time around. Ash is being fostered by a wonderful family, and spends all her time with her foster-sister Cassie and her best friend Jules. After the death of the fifth girl, Ash is frustrated with the police’s inaction and decides that she, Cassie, and Jules are going to stop the killer themselves. As they investigate, they unearth secrets spanning decades, a cult, and the true meaning of family.
The illustrations were full-color and beautifully rendered. They appeared hand-drawn, with imperfect edges, which brought the characters to life. In a few instances, characters diverged from the primary plot to tell a story or get lost in thought, and the illustration style changed as well. There was a section where Cassie is “teaching” Ash and Jules about a perfect final murder victim, and the art changes to a more anime-esque style. I loved these details throughout the graphic novel! The illustrated characters are racially diverse; Ash, Cassie, and Jules cue as white, while Heather is brown. Jules has hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and uses k-tape to stabilize her joints, even helping take down the killers fabulously by choking them with her k-tape. I also appreciated that the illustrations contained characters wearing shirts like “Protect the Dolls” and “Protect Trans Lives”. Jules uses she/they pronouns and Ash is in a sapphic relationship with Heather. This book is wonderfully queer and feminist all-around! Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
The illustrations were full-color and beautifully rendered. They appeared hand-drawn, with imperfect edges, which brought the characters to life. In a few instances, characters diverged from the primary plot to tell a story or get lost in thought, and the illustration style changed as well. There was a section where Cassie is “teaching” Ash and Jules about a perfect final murder victim, and the art changes to a more anime-esque style. I loved these details throughout the graphic novel! The illustrated characters are racially diverse; Ash, Cassie, and Jules cue as white, while Heather is brown. Jules has hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and uses k-tape to stabilize her joints, even helping take down the killers fabulously by choking them with her k-tape. I also appreciated that the illustrations contained characters wearing shirts like “Protect the Dolls” and “Protect Trans Lives”. Jules uses she/they pronouns and Ash is in a sapphic relationship with Heather. This book is wonderfully queer and feminist all-around! Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
September 16, 2026
Ash just has to hold on until she turns 18. Then she can leave the foster family she’s sure hates her, and move in with her mom’s best friend. He’s the last remaining tie she has to her mom — except, of course, for the town of Clossdale, infamous for burning witches and the world’s most famous female serial killer: Ash’s mom. But suddenly, four bodies show up decades later, and all eyes are on Ash as the suspect…
I found myself thinking about Old Wounds by Logan Kisner (patriarchal small town with a dark secret being pitted against scrappy queer teens), Assassination Classroom (the character flashbacks being told in a different art style as well as the comedic yet often emotional violence), and Kpop Demon Hunters (VERY similar humor and target audience imo).
this is EVERYTHING i would have been into age 12. sticking it to the man, horror movie tropes subverted, queer & trans found foster family, furiously angry and passively suicidal girls, femme lesbians that say :o), disability rep (one character has hEDS and uses their KT tape to choke a guy out), doomed yuri, haunting legacies and dark small town secrets, twists and turns and murder and furries… AND some commentary on the exploitative nature of true crime! seeing the three main characters interact felt like someone got a direct look into my middle school years. that’s exactly what we were up to.
also, major shoutout to the art style choices. there are several different art styles that correspond to different narrators, which fucking rocks, but then the MC’s childhood flashbacks are in a simplistic childish style, and — what really sold me — when a character loses consciousness, the panels go from full color to having the sketching guidelines visible. SUPER cool stuff.
I found myself thinking about Old Wounds by Logan Kisner (patriarchal small town with a dark secret being pitted against scrappy queer teens), Assassination Classroom (the character flashbacks being told in a different art style as well as the comedic yet often emotional violence), and Kpop Demon Hunters (VERY similar humor and target audience imo).
this is EVERYTHING i would have been into age 12. sticking it to the man, horror movie tropes subverted, queer & trans found foster family, furiously angry and passively suicidal girls, femme lesbians that say :o), disability rep (one character has hEDS and uses their KT tape to choke a guy out), doomed yuri, haunting legacies and dark small town secrets, twists and turns and murder and furries… AND some commentary on the exploitative nature of true crime! seeing the three main characters interact felt like someone got a direct look into my middle school years. that’s exactly what we were up to.
also, major shoutout to the art style choices. there are several different art styles that correspond to different narrators, which fucking rocks, but then the MC’s childhood flashbacks are in a simplistic childish style, and — what really sold me — when a character loses consciousness, the panels go from full color to having the sketching guidelines visible. SUPER cool stuff.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Dead Girls by Beck Kubrick is a graphic novel about a teenager named Ash who is determined to uncover who is behind a series of murders targeting young girls.
Clossdale has a dark history of teenage girls turning up dead. Recently, a fifth missing girl has been found murdered. Although the police have no suspects in custody, the court of public opinion has already decided that Ash is to blame. Ash is the seventeen-year-old orphaned daughter of the infamous serial killer known as "Evil Evelyn."
Ash is tired of hearing about another young woman being murdered while no one seems to be doing anything to stop it. When she receives a note warning that she is next, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Along with her foster sister, Cassie, and her best friend, Jamie, Ash begins investigating the murders, believing that if they don't do something, no one will.
As the trio digs deeper into the case, they discover that the town is hiding a dark secret. Will they be able to stop the killer before it's too late?
The graphic novel is beautifully illustrated and easy to follow. It has a good balance of humor and campy moments, but it also contains gore and explores heavy themes that are better suited for older teens. While I found the story mostly predictable, it was still an entertaining read. Readers who enjoy slasher horror, murder mysteries, and serial killer stories will likely have fun with this one.
Clossdale has a dark history of teenage girls turning up dead. Recently, a fifth missing girl has been found murdered. Although the police have no suspects in custody, the court of public opinion has already decided that Ash is to blame. Ash is the seventeen-year-old orphaned daughter of the infamous serial killer known as "Evil Evelyn."
Ash is tired of hearing about another young woman being murdered while no one seems to be doing anything to stop it. When she receives a note warning that she is next, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Along with her foster sister, Cassie, and her best friend, Jamie, Ash begins investigating the murders, believing that if they don't do something, no one will.
As the trio digs deeper into the case, they discover that the town is hiding a dark secret. Will they be able to stop the killer before it's too late?
The graphic novel is beautifully illustrated and easy to follow. It has a good balance of humor and campy moments, but it also contains gore and explores heavy themes that are better suited for older teens. While I found the story mostly predictable, it was still an entertaining read. Readers who enjoy slasher horror, murder mysteries, and serial killer stories will likely have fun with this one.
October 27, 2026
Well, that was fun!
I didn't know how Graphic Novel, Young Adult and Slasher Horror could possibly fit together, but Dead Girls shows it can. It delivers, with fast paced, edge-of-you-seat action.
Several high school girls get murdered in a small town. The Prime Suspect? The orphan daughter of a similar serial killer of 10 years earlier. We follow the suspect, her best friend & her foster sister as they try to solve the murder and to prevent their friends from becoming the next victim - of falling prey themselves.
The novel pulls no punches in the slasher department, as no character is seemingly safe from death . Some of the gore -it is a YA novel after all- is mellowed out, most noticeable in a bizarre scene where the POV character disassociates during the worst of the violence - if only as a way to keep it gore-free on page. Through a trail of dead boyfriends, threatened girlfriends, dark woods, and hobo-hideouts, the finale ties things up in the most teenage-appropriate way: .
The art on first glance doesn't always seem the most sophisticated, but it's dynamic and works great for telling this story.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!
I didn't know how Graphic Novel, Young Adult and Slasher Horror could possibly fit together, but Dead Girls shows it can. It delivers, with fast paced, edge-of-you-seat action.
Several high school girls get murdered in a small town. The Prime Suspect? The orphan daughter of a similar serial killer of 10 years earlier. We follow the suspect, her best friend & her foster sister as they try to solve the murder and to prevent their friends from becoming the next victim - of falling prey themselves.
The novel pulls no punches in the slasher department, as no character is seemingly safe from death . Some of the gore -it is a YA novel after all- is mellowed out, most noticeable in a bizarre scene where the POV character disassociates during the worst of the violence - if only as a way to keep it gore-free on page. Through a trail of dead boyfriends, threatened girlfriends, dark woods, and hobo-hideouts, the finale ties things up in the most teenage-appropriate way: .
The art on first glance doesn't always seem the most sophisticated, but it's dynamic and works great for telling this story.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK Children's for providing me with an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (3/5 Stars)
I went into Dead Girls expecting a horror graphic novel, and what I got was pretty much a love letter to slasher films.I could definitely see the influence of classic slashers throughout the story.
There are plenty of familiar ideas, and if you're someone who enjoys watching characters try to survive a night where everything seems to be going wrong, there's something here for you.
I liked the idea behind the story, and there were some parts that I really enjoyed.
It had that feeling of a slasher movie where you start wondering who is going to make it through and what is going to happen next.
If you don't watch a lot of slashers, you won't know who the killer is. However, because I have watched too many, I guessed it right away, and that took some of the suspense away for me.
The artwork worked well with the story and suited the darker moments; I felt drawn in, and the artwork was not overdone.Overall, I thought it was an okay read.
I think fans of classic slasher films will probably get more out of it than I did, especially if you enjoy stories that pay tribute to the genre, don't try to play "Guess Who," and just enjoy the story for what it is! Haha. 😂
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (3/5 Stars)
I went into Dead Girls expecting a horror graphic novel, and what I got was pretty much a love letter to slasher films.I could definitely see the influence of classic slashers throughout the story.
There are plenty of familiar ideas, and if you're someone who enjoys watching characters try to survive a night where everything seems to be going wrong, there's something here for you.
I liked the idea behind the story, and there were some parts that I really enjoyed.
It had that feeling of a slasher movie where you start wondering who is going to make it through and what is going to happen next.
If you don't watch a lot of slashers, you won't know who the killer is. However, because I have watched too many, I guessed it right away, and that took some of the suspense away for me.
The artwork worked well with the story and suited the darker moments; I felt drawn in, and the artwork was not overdone.Overall, I thought it was an okay read.
I think fans of classic slasher films will probably get more out of it than I did, especially if you enjoy stories that pay tribute to the genre, don't try to play "Guess Who," and just enjoy the story for what it is! Haha. 😂
September 25, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Dead Girls is a graphic novel that revolves around Ashley, a teenager with severe mental health issues, living in a foster home after the death of her mother, who was known around her town to be a murderer. The story begins from there and is set in the backdrop of a serial killing spree taking place in the town, and most people think that Ashley is the culprit because duh, genetics! I was pleasantly surprised with this graphic novel because it was full of so many twists, and at no point did I know what was coming next. Despite being a children’s book, it delves into themes like friendship, family (both found and biological), vengeance, anger, personal struggles, and of course, love. As the name suggests, the book had quite a bit of gore, but it was illustrated so beautifully and perfectly garnered towards kids, so it did not feel icky. The book does a good job making you like/dislike the characters, and wrapping up everyone’s storylines, while still leaving space for the readers to imagine how everyone’s future goes. The story was well told and the illustrations were lovely. If you enjoy graphic novels, or you are in a slump and are looking for a quick and easy read to get you out, then I cannot recommend this enough!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to Simon Teen for The Netgalley Widget*
Dead Girls by Beck Kubrick is a gitty, campy, teen horror graphic novel about a lesbian, foster child who is the daughter of an infamous, small-town serial killer, and is forced to reckon with her mother's past after being accused of murdering a girl from her high school.
Despite the dark plotline of this graphic novel, the overall themes of found family and learning to trust in the people who love you was very heartwarming. Ash, the main character, went through hardship after hardship, and uncovered a mystery that essentially set her free from the shackles of her warped perception of the life she was living.
If there was anything more I'd want from this graphic novel, it would be more lore surrounding the ritualistic murders. It was briefly touched upon a few times, but I feel like the history could've been a bit more in depth.
Due to the art and the subject matter, i would recommend this book to older teens. There are moments where the artwork is quite cutesy, but it is fairly gruesome, and I wouldn't recommend to a young teen especially if they are squeamish when it comes to the horror/thriller genre.
Dead Girls by Beck Kubrick is a gitty, campy, teen horror graphic novel about a lesbian, foster child who is the daughter of an infamous, small-town serial killer, and is forced to reckon with her mother's past after being accused of murdering a girl from her high school.
Despite the dark plotline of this graphic novel, the overall themes of found family and learning to trust in the people who love you was very heartwarming. Ash, the main character, went through hardship after hardship, and uncovered a mystery that essentially set her free from the shackles of her warped perception of the life she was living.
If there was anything more I'd want from this graphic novel, it would be more lore surrounding the ritualistic murders. It was briefly touched upon a few times, but I feel like the history could've been a bit more in depth.
Due to the art and the subject matter, i would recommend this book to older teens. There are moments where the artwork is quite cutesy, but it is fairly gruesome, and I wouldn't recommend to a young teen especially if they are squeamish when it comes to the horror/thriller genre.
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