What do you think?
It's For Your Own Good
The utterly addictive new YA thriller from the queen of twists, Kate Francis. For fans of The Traitors, Karen M. McManus and E. Lockhart.
In the middle of the night, Liv Walker is kidnapped from her bedroom by two masked figures. As she's dragged into an unmarked van, she's met with an even more horrifying sight: her family are waving goodbye.
Camp Smiling Skies is a wilderness therapy camp for "troubled teens". At least, that's what it says in the brochure. In truth, it's filled with dark secrets, cruel counsellors and no chance of escape.
Things seem as bad as they can get...until, one by one, people start to die.
Liv has already been betrayed by her family, but it seems like they're not the only traitors in her life.
There's a murderer in the camp, and everyone's a suspect.
In the middle of the night, Liv Walker is kidnapped from her bedroom by two masked figures. As she's dragged into an unmarked van, she's met with an even more horrifying sight: her family are waving goodbye.
Camp Smiling Skies is a wilderness therapy camp for "troubled teens". At least, that's what it says in the brochure. In truth, it's filled with dark secrets, cruel counsellors and no chance of escape.
Things seem as bad as they can get...until, one by one, people start to die.
Liv has already been betrayed by her family, but it seems like they're not the only traitors in her life.
There's a murderer in the camp, and everyone's a suspect.
Unknown Binding
Expected publication January 5, 2027
About the author
Kate Francis
3 books50 followersKate Francis is an English-American writer and architect. She graduated from Edinburgh University and the Bartlett School of Architecture, and worked for several top design firms in London, before trading in her heels for flip-flops and heading west. She now lives by the sea in California with her three kids. When she’s not building something, she enjoys kayaking, walking the dog, and crafting interesting ways to kill off fictional teenagers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 30, 2026
An addictive thriller! I basically read this in one sitting, I was absorbed in to the plot and was too intrigued to find out what would happen next to put the book down.
Creepy setting ✔️
Mixed bag of characters with interesting backgrounds . . . Perhaps some filled with lies ✔️
Emotional moments ✔️
High stakes ✔️
I’m sure the twist at the end will end up being controversial with some loving and some hating it. I land somewhere in the middle. I liked it, but also felt a bit disappointed by it. However, at the same time, I felt it was something different and really highlighted what paranoia and distrust can lead to.
I would have given this a higher rating if we were actually able to spend a bit more time with the characters and making them stand apart from each other. I also think sometimes the characters forgave and loved on too quickly from some of the events that happened.
Creepy setting ✔️
Mixed bag of characters with interesting backgrounds . . . Perhaps some filled with lies ✔️
Emotional moments ✔️
High stakes ✔️
I’m sure the twist at the end will end up being controversial with some loving and some hating it. I land somewhere in the middle. I liked it, but also felt a bit disappointed by it. However, at the same time, I felt it was something different and really highlighted what paranoia and distrust can lead to.
I would have given this a higher rating if we were actually able to spend a bit more time with the characters and making them stand apart from each other. I also think sometimes the characters forgave and loved on too quickly from some of the events that happened.
August 26, 2026
Why do I love YA books so much? Because the stakes are usually higher. The emotions, the risks, the reactions, it all feels like life or death, and sometimes it is 😱. Authors are able to take more liberties with YA characters because teens are just able to get away with more with less consequences.
But what if they aren't? It's For Your Own Good flips the script. It's an intense, fast paced, emotional thriller set at a "therapy camp" for troubled teens where they get much more punishment than what's deserved.
It's also so much more than that, though. Not only does Kate Francis put our teens through hell, but she makes us feel for them in a matter of "days". She keeps us guessing at every twist and turn while weaving in beautiful symbolism, imagery and dynamic character stories that will grab readers' hearts in different ways.
It's For Your Own Good has drama, suspense, betrayal, and emotion. It's got R. L Stine and locked room vibes with a uniqueness all its own. Everyone's suspicious, but they all have a story to tell. It's a harrowing nail biter that hits hard with thrilling fiction as well as some real life issues that will really make you think, and feel. With a justifiably angry female main character who finds her strength, "found family" and enough hope to fly again, this one will have you fired up and shattered at the same time.
But what if they aren't? It's For Your Own Good flips the script. It's an intense, fast paced, emotional thriller set at a "therapy camp" for troubled teens where they get much more punishment than what's deserved.
It's also so much more than that, though. Not only does Kate Francis put our teens through hell, but she makes us feel for them in a matter of "days". She keeps us guessing at every twist and turn while weaving in beautiful symbolism, imagery and dynamic character stories that will grab readers' hearts in different ways.
It's For Your Own Good has drama, suspense, betrayal, and emotion. It's got R. L Stine and locked room vibes with a uniqueness all its own. Everyone's suspicious, but they all have a story to tell. It's a harrowing nail biter that hits hard with thrilling fiction as well as some real life issues that will really make you think, and feel. With a justifiably angry female main character who finds her strength, "found family" and enough hope to fly again, this one will have you fired up and shattered at the same time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you very much Sourcebooks for the ARC!
I've just came to realize I've read this book already. It is basically 'It's for your own Good' but with a new cover and title. What a shame, it should have been mentioned somewhere.
It was an okay book from what I remember. Nothing that did overly impress me. I usually like survival stories but this was only average. Also who does call their kid Chipmunk? 3 stars from me, rounded up from 2,5.
I've just came to realize I've read this book already. It is basically 'It's for your own Good' but with a new cover and title. What a shame, it should have been mentioned somewhere.
It was an okay book from what I remember. Nothing that did overly impress me. I usually like survival stories but this was only average. Also who does call their kid Chipmunk? 3 stars from me, rounded up from 2,5.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Betrayed follows Liv Walker as she’s kidnapped in the middle of the night from her bedroom only to discover her family orchestrated the entire thing. They’re sending her to Camp Smiling Skies, a wilderness therapy program for delinquent teens. In reality, it’s a hellhole full of sadistic counsellors, crazy campmates, and no chance of escape. Liv doesn’t think it could get any worse … until it does when someone dies.
This is my second book by this author. I really loved her first book, but this one fell flat for me. It started off really strong. Conceptually, this book is great—what’s not to love? But I got a bit bored and wasn’t fond of the progression of the story past the midway point. I didn’t enjoy the twist. I can definitely see people enjoying this one though, it just didn’t work for me.
It was relatively fast-paced and dramatic so it was easy to fly through. Liv was a good main character. I enjoyed her the most—I didn’t really like anyone else. Except for maybe Lucas. He was an interesting character and I enjoyed where his and Liv’s stories ended. Liv’s ending was great—very satisfying.
Overall, if you like thrillers set in wilderness therapy camps with teens, definitely give this one a try!
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the arc
This is my second book by this author. I really loved her first book, but this one fell flat for me. It started off really strong. Conceptually, this book is great—what’s not to love? But I got a bit bored and wasn’t fond of the progression of the story past the midway point. I didn’t enjoy the twist. I can definitely see people enjoying this one though, it just didn’t work for me.
It was relatively fast-paced and dramatic so it was easy to fly through. Liv was a good main character. I enjoyed her the most—I didn’t really like anyone else. Except for maybe Lucas. He was an interesting character and I enjoyed where his and Liv’s stories ended. Liv’s ending was great—very satisfying.
Overall, if you like thrillers set in wilderness therapy camps with teens, definitely give this one a try!
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the arc
September 17, 2026
I have to say this book was nothing like I expected, but I enjoyed it so much! Liv is taken out of her bed in the middle of the night and kidnapped to a wilderness camp program. I have to say that was probably the scariest part of the book. Here she meets five other kids. At the camp, they have to play "team bonding games," and one of them is called werewolf, where two people are the "killers" and one is the "nurse," and then people start dying in the order that they played. But nothing is what it seems. If your favoirte movie is Bodies Bodies Bodies this is the book for you!!!
September 7, 2026
The Betrayed started off strong. However, the plot kept getting lost as the pages continued. The characters were all over the place. The werewolf turned killer game was ridiculous. I did not believe the main love story for a second and I thought Ben and Liv had way more chemistry. Bummed out by the ending. Maybe I’m just not the right audience for this one. Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book has SUCH a strong opening. I was hooked almost immediately and flew through the first few chapters wanting to know what on earth was going on.
The story itself is fast paced, twisty and constantly keeps you guessing who can actually be trusted. There’s lots happening throughout and I can absolutely see this being a really bingeable read for the right reader.
For me personally though, I think it leaned a little more YA / teen thriller than I usually gravitate towards. It wasn’t quite as dark, sinister or psychologically heavy as the thrillers I tend to love most, and I did find my attention drifting slightly in places despite the action.
That said, I still enjoyed it overall and think it would be a great pick if you enjoy lighter, campfire-story style thrillers with a nostalgic 90s / early 00s feel. It actually reminded me a little of Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark? but with a more modern thriller twist.
Definitely an easy, entertaining read - just perhaps not quite dark enough for my personal taste 👀
The story itself is fast paced, twisty and constantly keeps you guessing who can actually be trusted. There’s lots happening throughout and I can absolutely see this being a really bingeable read for the right reader.
For me personally though, I think it leaned a little more YA / teen thriller than I usually gravitate towards. It wasn’t quite as dark, sinister or psychologically heavy as the thrillers I tend to love most, and I did find my attention drifting slightly in places despite the action.
That said, I still enjoyed it overall and think it would be a great pick if you enjoy lighter, campfire-story style thrillers with a nostalgic 90s / early 00s feel. It actually reminded me a little of Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark? but with a more modern thriller twist.
Definitely an easy, entertaining read - just perhaps not quite dark enough for my personal taste 👀
April 22, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley I received an advanced copy of this book.
I struggled with this book, both with getting into it and staying interested. The characters aren’t very well fleshed out and trying to take an antagonist seriously when they are named Chipmunk is rather difficult. The concept of this novel is really good, I just think this hasn’t been realised.
It very much reads as a young adult novel so maybe someone younger would like this more than I did.
I struggled with this book, both with getting into it and staying interested. The characters aren’t very well fleshed out and trying to take an antagonist seriously when they are named Chipmunk is rather difficult. The concept of this novel is really good, I just think this hasn’t been realised.
It very much reads as a young adult novel so maybe someone younger would like this more than I did.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I went into “The Betrayed” by Kate Franics expecting a creepy wilderness camp horror story, and instead I got psychological manipulation, paranoia, murder, and so many different possibilities of who to trust.
The book starts with Olivia “Liv” Walker being literally kidnapped from her bed and taken to Camp Smiling Skies, a wilderness therapy program her own father has decided she needs after the death of her mother. And by “camp,” I mean absolutely not the kind where you're making friendship bracelets and roasting marshmallows. These kids are being subjected to harsh rules, psychological manipulation, physical punishment, terrible living conditions, and a counselor named Chipmunk who seems to have made it her personal mission to break everyone’s spirit. Unfortunately, programs like this still exist today, even with the kidnapping aspect.
Liv is understandably angry, grieving, and struggling after losing her mom and dealing with a pretty awful stepmother, so I immediately felt for her. And honestly, the whole wilderness therapy setup was one of the more disturbing parts of the story. The teenagers have to work their way through different levels to earn their freedom, but even the smallest mistake can send them backward. Escape doesn't exactly seem like an option.
The beginning did take a little while to get moving, though. I was waiting for the horror/thriller element to really kick in, and for a while it felt more like a story about surviving an abusive camp than the murder mystery I was expecting. I also went in expecting the Werewolf angle to play a much bigger role.
Things really pick up around the halfway point when the campers start dying and everyone has to start wondering what exactly is happening. Is there someone outside the camp hunting them? Is one of the campers secretly responsible? Is this connected to the game of Werewolf? Suddenly everyone is suspicious, everyone has an explanation, and nobody seems trustworthy.
And that was probably my favorite part.
The mystery does a great job of making you question everyone. The campers basically have to argue for their own innocence while trying to figure out who might be lying, which finally gives the story that fun Werewolf party-game feeling where you're sitting there switching who you believe is behind everything every five seconds.
The book also does a surprisingly good job showing how quickly fear and paranoia can make people turn on each other. These kids are terrified, trapped, and increasingly convinced that someone among them can't be trusted. Watching them become more suspicious and irrational reminded me a little of Lord of the Flies. When people genuinely believe their lives are in danger, suddenly rational thinking becomes optional.
There is a romance subplot, including a bit of a love triangle, and I had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it's nice that the romance stays mostly in the background. On the other hand, there were definitely moments where I thought it was unnecessary. Survival should probably take priority over romantic drama.
I also think the characters could have been developed a little more. There were several interesting personalities and emotional storylines, but I sometimes wished we had more time to really get to know everyone individually. Some of the forgiveness and emotional resolutions also felt a little too quick considering everything these characters had gone through.
And then there's the ending. Wow. I can absolutely see this ending being one of those love-it-or-hate-it situations. I actually enjoyed the ending because it was not what I was expecting, but it fits the book's bigger themes of paranoia, manipulation, distrust, and how easily people can convince themselves of things when they're afraid.
What I did really appreciate was the extended ending. Instead of stopping immediately after the big reveal, the story gives Liv and the others some time to process what happened and move forward. There are themes of found family, healing, resilience, and rebuilding relationships, which gave the story a surprisingly emotional and hopeful conclusion.
Overall, “The Betrayed” wasn't quite the horror story I expected, butt once the mystery gets going, it becomes seriously bingeable.
If you like YA thrillers and stories where you spend half the book suspicious of literally everyone, this is definitely worth checking out.
I went into “The Betrayed” by Kate Franics expecting a creepy wilderness camp horror story, and instead I got psychological manipulation, paranoia, murder, and so many different possibilities of who to trust.
The book starts with Olivia “Liv” Walker being literally kidnapped from her bed and taken to Camp Smiling Skies, a wilderness therapy program her own father has decided she needs after the death of her mother. And by “camp,” I mean absolutely not the kind where you're making friendship bracelets and roasting marshmallows. These kids are being subjected to harsh rules, psychological manipulation, physical punishment, terrible living conditions, and a counselor named Chipmunk who seems to have made it her personal mission to break everyone’s spirit. Unfortunately, programs like this still exist today, even with the kidnapping aspect.
Liv is understandably angry, grieving, and struggling after losing her mom and dealing with a pretty awful stepmother, so I immediately felt for her. And honestly, the whole wilderness therapy setup was one of the more disturbing parts of the story. The teenagers have to work their way through different levels to earn their freedom, but even the smallest mistake can send them backward. Escape doesn't exactly seem like an option.
The beginning did take a little while to get moving, though. I was waiting for the horror/thriller element to really kick in, and for a while it felt more like a story about surviving an abusive camp than the murder mystery I was expecting. I also went in expecting the Werewolf angle to play a much bigger role.
Things really pick up around the halfway point when the campers start dying and everyone has to start wondering what exactly is happening. Is there someone outside the camp hunting them? Is one of the campers secretly responsible? Is this connected to the game of Werewolf? Suddenly everyone is suspicious, everyone has an explanation, and nobody seems trustworthy.
And that was probably my favorite part.
The mystery does a great job of making you question everyone. The campers basically have to argue for their own innocence while trying to figure out who might be lying, which finally gives the story that fun Werewolf party-game feeling where you're sitting there switching who you believe is behind everything every five seconds.
The book also does a surprisingly good job showing how quickly fear and paranoia can make people turn on each other. These kids are terrified, trapped, and increasingly convinced that someone among them can't be trusted. Watching them become more suspicious and irrational reminded me a little of Lord of the Flies. When people genuinely believe their lives are in danger, suddenly rational thinking becomes optional.
There is a romance subplot, including a bit of a love triangle, and I had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it's nice that the romance stays mostly in the background. On the other hand, there were definitely moments where I thought it was unnecessary. Survival should probably take priority over romantic drama.
I also think the characters could have been developed a little more. There were several interesting personalities and emotional storylines, but I sometimes wished we had more time to really get to know everyone individually. Some of the forgiveness and emotional resolutions also felt a little too quick considering everything these characters had gone through.
And then there's the ending. Wow. I can absolutely see this ending being one of those love-it-or-hate-it situations. I actually enjoyed the ending because it was not what I was expecting, but it fits the book's bigger themes of paranoia, manipulation, distrust, and how easily people can convince themselves of things when they're afraid.
What I did really appreciate was the extended ending. Instead of stopping immediately after the big reveal, the story gives Liv and the others some time to process what happened and move forward. There are themes of found family, healing, resilience, and rebuilding relationships, which gave the story a surprisingly emotional and hopeful conclusion.
Overall, “The Betrayed” wasn't quite the horror story I expected, butt once the mystery gets going, it becomes seriously bingeable.
If you like YA thrillers and stories where you spend half the book suspicious of literally everyone, this is definitely worth checking out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. These opinions are completely my own.
I honestly don't know exactly how I feel about The Betrayed, and I think that's part of what makes this book so interesting.
I went into this expecting a scary, horror-type book. The beginning was actually pretty slow, and I wasn't sure where the story was going. Three teenagers are literally kidnapped from their beds, still in their pajamas, thrown into a van, and taken to a place that is supposedly a camp designed to teach them how to behave.
Except this is definitely not summer camp.
The teenagers have to work their way through different levels in order to earn their freedom, and almost anything can send them backward. A small mistake, a little misbehavior, or breaking one of the rules can have serious consequences. When they arrive, there are already other teenagers there, and things quickly become disturbing.
And then there is Chipmunk. Yes, Chipmunk. That's her name, and she is the leader of this so-called camp. She is absolutely horrible—cruel in a way that makes you wonder how anyone could possibly survive under her control. These kids are forced to live in terrible conditions, including using a bucket as a bathroom, and the psychological torment is just as bad as the physical conditions.
But as the story progresses, I realized this wasn't really the horror story I thought I was reading. It's much more about delusion, manipulation, lies, and what happens when people don't know who—or what—to believe. The lack of trust between the teenagers becomes more and more dangerous, and eventually there are actual deaths.
I don't want to say too much because discovering what is really happening is a huge part of the experience. The ending was definitely strange, but strangely satisfying at the same time. And that postcard! If you've read the book, you know exactly what I mean. If you haven't, you'll have to read it to understand why that little detail stuck with me.
So, where does that leave me?
I'm still not completely sure.
This wasn't the book I expected it to be, and I'm not sure I loved it. But I also can't say I didn't enjoy it. It made me question what was real, who could be trusted, and where the story was ultimately going.
I wish I did not have to give a star rating, but I will do 3 since that is average. Maybe that's a sign that this is a book I'll keep thinking about for a while.
I honestly don't know exactly how I feel about The Betrayed, and I think that's part of what makes this book so interesting.
I went into this expecting a scary, horror-type book. The beginning was actually pretty slow, and I wasn't sure where the story was going. Three teenagers are literally kidnapped from their beds, still in their pajamas, thrown into a van, and taken to a place that is supposedly a camp designed to teach them how to behave.
Except this is definitely not summer camp.
The teenagers have to work their way through different levels in order to earn their freedom, and almost anything can send them backward. A small mistake, a little misbehavior, or breaking one of the rules can have serious consequences. When they arrive, there are already other teenagers there, and things quickly become disturbing.
And then there is Chipmunk. Yes, Chipmunk. That's her name, and she is the leader of this so-called camp. She is absolutely horrible—cruel in a way that makes you wonder how anyone could possibly survive under her control. These kids are forced to live in terrible conditions, including using a bucket as a bathroom, and the psychological torment is just as bad as the physical conditions.
But as the story progresses, I realized this wasn't really the horror story I thought I was reading. It's much more about delusion, manipulation, lies, and what happens when people don't know who—or what—to believe. The lack of trust between the teenagers becomes more and more dangerous, and eventually there are actual deaths.
I don't want to say too much because discovering what is really happening is a huge part of the experience. The ending was definitely strange, but strangely satisfying at the same time. And that postcard! If you've read the book, you know exactly what I mean. If you haven't, you'll have to read it to understand why that little detail stuck with me.
So, where does that leave me?
I'm still not completely sure.
This wasn't the book I expected it to be, and I'm not sure I loved it. But I also can't say I didn't enjoy it. It made me question what was real, who could be trusted, and where the story was ultimately going.
I wish I did not have to give a star rating, but I will do 3 since that is average. Maybe that's a sign that this is a book I'll keep thinking about for a while.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚂𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚟𝚒𝚊 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝙶𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚢. 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗. This book was marked as Read Now on NetGalley and I'm so glad that I was able to read this book at the correct time.
────────────────────────────────
The Betrayed by Kate Francis is a YA teen book where a group of teenagers are sent to wilderness therapy program for troubled teens. Over there, she meets 5 more teens and there are shared secrets, twisted games, sketchy counsellors among other things.
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𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔?:
- Teens kidnapped and sent into a camp.
- Cannot trust anyone.
- Eyes everywhere and everything is fake scenarios.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍:
- I liked the parents being the villains behind the kidnapping angle.
- The trope where you are with a group of teenagers and you are still alone was a nice touch to the story.
- I also hardly expected the story guy to be into the whole 'you are trapped' thing.
𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚞𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
-
- The third person POV felt flat in this kind of story. I was hoping for first person POV where I got experience and feel emotions head on in this story.
- The writing style wasn't that great either. I expected the flow of the writing to be different and the nicknames of the kidnappers to be something unique.
────────────────────────────────
The Betrayed by Kate Francis is a YA teen book where a group of teenagers are sent to wilderness therapy program for troubled teens. Over there, she meets 5 more teens and there are shared secrets, twisted games, sketchy counsellors among other things.
────────────────────────────────
𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔?:
- Teens kidnapped and sent into a camp.
- Cannot trust anyone.
- Eyes everywhere and everything is fake scenarios.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍:
- I liked the parents being the villains behind the kidnapping angle.
- The trope where you are with a group of teenagers and you are still alone was a nice touch to the story.
- I also hardly expected the story guy to be into the whole 'you are trapped' thing.
𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚞𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
-
- The third person POV felt flat in this kind of story. I was hoping for first person POV where I got experience and feel emotions head on in this story.
- The writing style wasn't that great either. I expected the flow of the writing to be different and the nicknames of the kidnappers to be something unique.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you like Karen M. McManus and/or Natasha Preston, I’m convinced you’ll like this book.
This book kept me hooked from the very beginning. Our teenage FMC— Olivia Walker— has recently been dubbed ‘delinquent’ by her avoidant father and not-so-loving stepmother following the tragic death of her mother. Angry at Liv for her recent outbursts, her parents decide to ship her off to a wilderness training camp brightly named Camp Smiling Skies. Liv is forced to choose between undignified submission or facing the wrath of a megalomaniac counselor set on breaking everyones spirit. But when people start dropping dead one by one, Liv and her fellow campers can’t help but wonder.. is this some sick twist of a game? Or is something more sinister at play?
Overall a great read. Definitely a YA/teen murder mystery, but I believe many adults would find this enjoyable too. Romance is a back burner subplot, which I can appreciate in this story. It’s appropriately realistic. If I’m stranded in the desert with no escape surrounded by the dead, I probably wouldn’t be thinking about making out with my fellow campmates. Survival people, survival.
The ending has plot lines of found family and family restoration. With just enough details that bring closure to each characters storylines. I would recommend this book to any YA murder mystery enthusiast.
Thank you NetGalley and Kate Francis for trusting me with my first ever ARC read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of your work.
This book kept me hooked from the very beginning. Our teenage FMC— Olivia Walker— has recently been dubbed ‘delinquent’ by her avoidant father and not-so-loving stepmother following the tragic death of her mother. Angry at Liv for her recent outbursts, her parents decide to ship her off to a wilderness training camp brightly named Camp Smiling Skies. Liv is forced to choose between undignified submission or facing the wrath of a megalomaniac counselor set on breaking everyones spirit. But when people start dropping dead one by one, Liv and her fellow campers can’t help but wonder.. is this some sick twist of a game? Or is something more sinister at play?
Overall a great read. Definitely a YA/teen murder mystery, but I believe many adults would find this enjoyable too. Romance is a back burner subplot, which I can appreciate in this story. It’s appropriately realistic. If I’m stranded in the desert with no escape surrounded by the dead, I probably wouldn’t be thinking about making out with my fellow campmates. Survival people, survival.
The ending has plot lines of found family and family restoration. With just enough details that bring closure to each characters storylines. I would recommend this book to any YA murder mystery enthusiast.
Thank you NetGalley and Kate Francis for trusting me with my first ever ARC read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of your work.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There were genuinely good moments in the story while lacking the few things I hoped for.
The story started with the protagonist, Liv Walker being abducted from her home, only to realise that her own family was shipping her to a wilderness therapy camp. As Liv arrives, she meets five more of "wild" teens who wish for more than anything to leave the camp. But a game of werewolf ended up sealing their fate when one by one people started dying.
The book had focused on the characters really well and I liked it. There were times when I felt extremely bad for Liv and the others due to the life that they found in the camp. It was extremely sad. And I hoped for it all to change soon.
What I expected was a thrilling story like that of a closed room thriller but after some time, I realised I was wrong. The book was definitely a thriller but not the kind I hoped for. Add to that, the introductory parts dragged on for some time, until the focus was shifted to the main part of the story, so it was a bit slow paced in the beginning. All that was disappointing...
But the best part of the story was definitely its suspense. I liked how everything was different than what one sees. And the few major twists just made me surprised and became a major reason why I loved the story.
Not to mention, it also focused on the emotional angle of the characters who faced something or the other issues. And the ending was also able to tie all the loose ends and it was good.
Overall, it was a good thriller with twists that can change the entire story!
The story started with the protagonist, Liv Walker being abducted from her home, only to realise that her own family was shipping her to a wilderness therapy camp. As Liv arrives, she meets five more of "wild" teens who wish for more than anything to leave the camp. But a game of werewolf ended up sealing their fate when one by one people started dying.
The book had focused on the characters really well and I liked it. There were times when I felt extremely bad for Liv and the others due to the life that they found in the camp. It was extremely sad. And I hoped for it all to change soon.
What I expected was a thrilling story like that of a closed room thriller but after some time, I realised I was wrong. The book was definitely a thriller but not the kind I hoped for. Add to that, the introductory parts dragged on for some time, until the focus was shifted to the main part of the story, so it was a bit slow paced in the beginning. All that was disappointing...
But the best part of the story was definitely its suspense. I liked how everything was different than what one sees. And the few major twists just made me surprised and became a major reason why I loved the story.
Not to mention, it also focused on the emotional angle of the characters who faced something or the other issues. And the ending was also able to tie all the loose ends and it was good.
Overall, it was a good thriller with twists that can change the entire story!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to netgalley & publishers for this arc !
The Betrayed follows Liv as she is sent to a wilderness therapy camp, where a bad situation quickly turns deadly.
This book started out so strong - it had such a great hook and the suspense kept building and building but when we got to the third act it fizzled out. It built up all this suspense, it had me waiting for the shoe to drop - for the ‘big reveal’ if you will - for it to just flatline out. I felt rather unsatisfied after reading the ending.
However as a whole this was a quick and easy read - the pacing was good which kept me engaged - save for the last 40ish pages. I liked Liv as a character - she was feisty and unafraid to speak her mind. I wish we saw more of her backstory though, and spent more time about why she (& the others) ended up at this camp in the first place.
I didn’t feel like Lucas was a believable love interest - let alone friend to Liv. To be honest - I was rooting for someone else and I was genuinely shocked by his ending. It almost feels too easy… suffice to say this book holds up well as a mystery but the romance subplot fell a bit short for me personally.
The story as whole is so twisty and I could never quite predict what was going to happen next, when I say I was suspicious of literally EVERYONE. Overall I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it if you enjoy YA Thrillers!!
The Betrayed follows Liv as she is sent to a wilderness therapy camp, where a bad situation quickly turns deadly.
This book started out so strong - it had such a great hook and the suspense kept building and building but when we got to the third act it fizzled out. It built up all this suspense, it had me waiting for the shoe to drop - for the ‘big reveal’ if you will - for it to just flatline out. I felt rather unsatisfied after reading the ending.
However as a whole this was a quick and easy read - the pacing was good which kept me engaged - save for the last 40ish pages. I liked Liv as a character - she was feisty and unafraid to speak her mind. I wish we saw more of her backstory though, and spent more time about why she (& the others) ended up at this camp in the first place.
I didn’t feel like Lucas was a believable love interest - let alone friend to Liv. To be honest - I was rooting for someone else and I was genuinely shocked by his ending. It almost feels too easy… suffice to say this book holds up well as a mystery but the romance subplot fell a bit short for me personally.
The story as whole is so twisty and I could never quite predict what was going to happen next, when I say I was suspicious of literally EVERYONE. Overall I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it if you enjoy YA Thrillers!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars for me.
Summary: Kidnapped in the middle of the night and forced to attend an outdoor camp for troubled teens Live can't believe this has become her life! What the hell did she do to deserve this? Forced to sleep outside in tents, go on terrible nature walks, she can't imagine life getting worse than your own parents allowing and signing you up for this hell. That is until, one by one campers and staff begin to be murdered. Is one of the other troubled teens responsible? Will she ever make it out of the wilderness alive?
Thoughts: This book started out strong! It was faced paced and exciting, you know all the kidnapping and stuff at the beginning. I loved them playing One Night a Werewolf at camp. If you have never played this epic party game you totally should. But, about halfway through it began to lag a little, ironic since you know people are dying and stuff. I just didn't feel the chemistry between Liv and one of the main male characters and found that side of the story lackluster to say the least. The ending however I really enjoyed. I was had thought it would end one way with this grand healing but when it didn't at first I was mad but eventually came to realize that, maybe how the book ends is way more lifelike. Not everyone gets a happy ending, and reconciliation with loved ones. Sometimes family is messy and frustrating and your found family is more important.
Summary: Kidnapped in the middle of the night and forced to attend an outdoor camp for troubled teens Live can't believe this has become her life! What the hell did she do to deserve this? Forced to sleep outside in tents, go on terrible nature walks, she can't imagine life getting worse than your own parents allowing and signing you up for this hell. That is until, one by one campers and staff begin to be murdered. Is one of the other troubled teens responsible? Will she ever make it out of the wilderness alive?
Thoughts: This book started out strong! It was faced paced and exciting, you know all the kidnapping and stuff at the beginning. I loved them playing One Night a Werewolf at camp. If you have never played this epic party game you totally should. But, about halfway through it began to lag a little, ironic since you know people are dying and stuff. I just didn't feel the chemistry between Liv and one of the main male characters and found that side of the story lackluster to say the least. The ending however I really enjoyed. I was had thought it would end one way with this grand healing but when it didn't at first I was mad but eventually came to realize that, maybe how the book ends is way more lifelike. Not everyone gets a happy ending, and reconciliation with loved ones. Sometimes family is messy and frustrating and your found family is more important.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun YA thriller read!
There was a lot to love about this book. The suspense was great, as it kept building and building for most of the book. I thought the pacing was really well done, in a way that kept me turning the page to find out what happened next.
I liked Liv as the protagonist that we followed along with. She was a bold character that wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, which I quite liked. I wish we had gotten more backstory about why she wound up at this wilderness therapy camp though. Same with other characters, actually—I wanted to learn more about their backgrounds!
Lucas wasn’t my favorite love interest for Liv. I was actually hoping Liv would end up with someone else, given Lucas wasn’t even that great a friend to her. His ending definitely surprised me.
I will say that the suspense sort of fizzled out towards the end of the book, which was a bummer. I guess I just wanted more from the ending, after the buildup promised that the big reveal was going to be worth the wait.
All in all though, the mystery component was entertaining, with all the twists and turns.
So I enjoyed my time reading this book, and I think other YA thriller fans will as well!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire | Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me to read the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book had me suspicious of EVERYONE and honestly I loved every second of it.
Liv being dragged out of her bedroom in the middle of the night and dumped at a wilderness therapy camp BY HER OWN FAMILY??? I would have simply lost the plot immediately. Then someone gets murdered and suddenly I’m sitting there like right, nobody speak. I need to investigate.
The whole setting was so creepy too. Miles from civilisation, no proper way to escape, a bunch of teenagers who already have enough going on, and a counsellor who I trusted about as far as I could throw him. Then the deaths start happening and the paranoia just keeps getting worse.
I really loved Liv as a main character. She’s angry, terrified, betrayed and completely determined to get the hell out of there. I was rooting for her the entire time.
And the twists?? I kept thinking I had it figured out and then the book basically went lol absolutely not.
Fast-paced, creepy, twisty and SO easy to fly through. I genuinely did not want to put this down.
If you like YA thrillers, survival stories, murder mysteries and being suspicious of every single person who appears on the page, READ THIS.
5 stars because I had an absolute bloody time!
Liv being dragged out of her bedroom in the middle of the night and dumped at a wilderness therapy camp BY HER OWN FAMILY??? I would have simply lost the plot immediately. Then someone gets murdered and suddenly I’m sitting there like right, nobody speak. I need to investigate.
The whole setting was so creepy too. Miles from civilisation, no proper way to escape, a bunch of teenagers who already have enough going on, and a counsellor who I trusted about as far as I could throw him. Then the deaths start happening and the paranoia just keeps getting worse.
I really loved Liv as a main character. She’s angry, terrified, betrayed and completely determined to get the hell out of there. I was rooting for her the entire time.
And the twists?? I kept thinking I had it figured out and then the book basically went lol absolutely not.
Fast-paced, creepy, twisty and SO easy to fly through. I genuinely did not want to put this down.
If you like YA thrillers, survival stories, murder mysteries and being suspicious of every single person who appears on the page, READ THIS.
5 stars because I had an absolute bloody time!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A thrill ride. When Liv Walker wakes up to find two people in ski masks in her room, she thinks she’s going to die. She worries about her father, stepmother, and stepsister, only to find that the three of them are fine and watching as these two kidnappers take her away. She was being sent to Camp Smiling Skies. A camp for “troubled teens” where they put you back on a good path before sending you home. But the camp isn’t good, they’re treated poorly, the food is horrendous, living conditions suck, and the counselors are sadistic. Liv has to find a way to escape because she’s realized that there is not telling when she’ll be let out. But before she can people start dying. And it soon becomes clear that someone at that camp is hiding darker secrets than any of them know. Who will make it out alive? This one was fast paced and had me hooked! I was so freakin angry at all of these kids families, they’re completely ridiculous! Kate Francis delivers a spooky wilderness vibe with plenty of possible suspects for a killer! It was twisty and kept me guessing!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the published for the ARC!
This book follows Liv Walker, a rebelious teen who is kidnapped in the middle of the night and sent to Camp Smiling Skies, planned and paid for by her own father and stepmother. Once she arrives, things quickly spiral out of control after people start dying.
I enjoyed this book, I think it was fast paced and well written. I was also immediately drawn into the characters. This is definitely a book to pick up if you want a quick YA thriller/slasher. I just wish there was more character development. Because the book moves so quickly, I felt that we didn't really get to know anyone other than Liv, and even her, not that well. I will also say I did find some parts to be extremely sad. Especially some of endings that characters had. I was rooting for another love interest and his ending seemed unnecessary. I've seen other people compare it to YA horror, but I also didn't find it to be scary.
Thank you to NetGalley and the published for the ARC!
This book follows Liv Walker, a rebelious teen who is kidnapped in the middle of the night and sent to Camp Smiling Skies, planned and paid for by her own father and stepmother. Once she arrives, things quickly spiral out of control after people start dying.
I enjoyed this book, I think it was fast paced and well written. I was also immediately drawn into the characters. This is definitely a book to pick up if you want a quick YA thriller/slasher. I just wish there was more character development. Because the book moves so quickly, I felt that we didn't really get to know anyone other than Liv, and even her, not that well. I will also say I did find some parts to be extremely sad. Especially some of endings that characters had. I was rooting for another love interest and his ending seemed unnecessary. I've seen other people compare it to YA horror, but I also didn't find it to be scary.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
SIX TEENS GO INTO THE WOODS, BUT THEY WON'T ALL MAKE IT OUT ALIVE... ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
In the middle of the night, Liv is taken from her bedroom by a group of strangers. When she realises her family are the ones who set it up, she knows she isn't going to be rescued.
This book is good for what it is, a fast-paced easy thriller read. With plenty of twists and turns along the way to make this book one you won't easily forget.
The world-building of this book is phenomenal -- the creepy survivalist camp, the campfire games -- all of it, is insane. You truly feel like you're in the book with the characters.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
If you like:
☑ Survivalist Thrillers
☑ Teenager Horror
Then you're going to *love* this book.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for access to this ARC. All opinions are my own.
In the middle of the night, Liv is taken from her bedroom by a group of strangers. When she realises her family are the ones who set it up, she knows she isn't going to be rescued.
This book is good for what it is, a fast-paced easy thriller read. With plenty of twists and turns along the way to make this book one you won't easily forget.
The world-building of this book is phenomenal -- the creepy survivalist camp, the campfire games -- all of it, is insane. You truly feel like you're in the book with the characters.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
If you like:
☑ Survivalist Thrillers
☑ Teenager Horror
Then you're going to *love* this book.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for access to this ARC. All opinions are my own.
September 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ the beginning had me HOOKED and it didn’t play out the way I imagined it would, yet I was satisfied with the ending! I think a YA reader would highly enjoy this book (I would’ve eaten it up when I was in middle school! As an adult I’ve moved on to much darker thrillers) I love the snark between Ben & Liv and the characters were enjoyable, but I feel as if we only scratched the surface of who they were in the first half of the book. We get a good feel for Liv from the beginning but the others are more mysterious until the last half - so I wasn’t as connected to them. All that said I did enjoy the book and I flew through it! It felt nostalgic in a way, it was giving campy spooky Halloween episode from the 90s (Are You Afraid of the Dark or Goosebumps-esque) Big thank you to Sourcebooks Fire, NetGalley & Kate Francis for the advance copy ❤️
August 31, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD by Kate Francis (Out now in the UK; out as The Betrayed January 2027)
Thank you for the copy, Kate!
Liv Walker was dragged from her bed in the middle of the night, her family waving goodbye as she's slung into a white van. Now, she's at Camp Smiling Skies for therapy since she's "troubled." It's as terrible as it can get, but then people start to d*e.
IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD is a YA thriller. It tells the tale of survival, found-family, and betrayal across a semi-fast-paced plot (once Liv got to camp, things mellow out until the first body drops). Francis is the author of EVERY LAST LIAR (US; Circle of Liars in the UK). From that, I knew there would be twists. Multiple. And there were. Each crazier than the last. I honestly thought I had it all figured out. I had latched onto a suspect from the beginning. I wasn't prepared for those twists thrown at the end. That reveal. Talk about mind blown.
IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD was pulling at my heart strings. This took place over such a short time, but I wanted everyone to survive. Even Milo and his ways. Everyone seemed...they seemed too good to be there. Definitely a must-read.
IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD by Kate Francis (Out now in the UK; out as The Betrayed January 2027)
Thank you for the copy, Kate!
Liv Walker was dragged from her bed in the middle of the night, her family waving goodbye as she's slung into a white van. Now, she's at Camp Smiling Skies for therapy since she's "troubled." It's as terrible as it can get, but then people start to d*e.
IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD is a YA thriller. It tells the tale of survival, found-family, and betrayal across a semi-fast-paced plot (once Liv got to camp, things mellow out until the first body drops). Francis is the author of EVERY LAST LIAR (US; Circle of Liars in the UK). From that, I knew there would be twists. Multiple. And there were. Each crazier than the last. I honestly thought I had it all figured out. I had latched onto a suspect from the beginning. I wasn't prepared for those twists thrown at the end. That reveal. Talk about mind blown.
IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD was pulling at my heart strings. This took place over such a short time, but I wanted everyone to survive. Even Milo and his ways. Everyone seemed...they seemed too good to be there. Definitely a must-read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5 rounded up because why not, I'm feeling generous! (And I had a great time.)
I don't know why, but I do love a spooky story set at a troubled teen industry place.
This follows a group of teens at a troubled teen camp. And people start dying. Everyone is suspicious of everyone and things get continuously more complicated as they try to figure out what's going on and who is behind what.
There's theorizing and twists and complicated relationship dynamics. And everyone has plenty of secrets.
I sped through this and had so much fun with it. If you like other similar books, you would definitely like this!
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I don't know why, but I do love a spooky story set at a troubled teen industry place.
This follows a group of teens at a troubled teen camp. And people start dying. Everyone is suspicious of everyone and things get continuously more complicated as they try to figure out what's going on and who is behind what.
There's theorizing and twists and complicated relationship dynamics. And everyone has plenty of secrets.
I sped through this and had so much fun with it. If you like other similar books, you would definitely like this!
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This had a good, creepy R.L. Stine Fear Street vibe to it, but it was too young adult for middle school. I'm always glad when authors drop multiple f-words in the first chapter rather than waiting until further in the book.
It would be great to have more young adult books that are also something that tweens could read, like there were in the 1990s and early 2000s, but the middle grade/young adult divide seems to get wider every year.
This had a good, creepy R.L. Stine Fear Street vibe to it, but it was too young adult for middle school. I'm always glad when authors drop multiple f-words in the first chapter rather than waiting until further in the book.
It would be great to have more young adult books that are also something that tweens could read, like there were in the 1990s and early 2000s, but the middle grade/young adult divide seems to get wider every year.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Betrayed is easily a top thriller for me this year. From the first chapter I was hooked. This is definitely one of those books where you don’t know who’s reliable or who to trust. The setting is very unique and really sets up for an exciting thriller. So many twists were unexpected and I felt the characters were very well written with genuine depth and emotion.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I always really like YA survival books .I found this book reminded me a lot of Karen M McManus books with a group of teenagers with all having their own personal stories to how they ended up there. It was very easy to get pulled into the story and had me getting everyone’s motives.
Thank you to NetGalley, SourceBOoks Fire and Kate Francis for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley, SourceBOoks Fire and Kate Francis for the ARC.
September 19, 2026
A good fast-paced thriller!
I immediately got hooked. The concept of the book was definitely super interesting, which is why it was such an easy read. You can’t help but want to turn the pages as the story doesn't stop moving.
I would recommend it, but I felt a bit disappointed by the ending’s twist, which explains why I’m not giving it a higher rating.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.
I immediately got hooked. The concept of the book was definitely super interesting, which is why it was such an easy read. You can’t help but want to turn the pages as the story doesn't stop moving.
I would recommend it, but I felt a bit disappointed by the ending’s twist, which explains why I’m not giving it a higher rating.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was not bad. Not my favourite, but not the worst! Would recommend for beginner suspense readers! Very well rounded and I loved that it had a conclusion! No questions left unanswered, no cliffhangers. The beginning definitely caught your attention and the whole concept was different. Overall, I'd give this book a 3.8 / 5 GO READ IT
April 21, 2026
Counting books in my reading challenge that I copyedited or proofread. It's only fair. It's a lot of reading I'm not including otherwise!
Such a pleasure to return to a Kate Francis book - she's so fun to read, and this one was even set in my home state!
Such a pleasure to return to a Kate Francis book - she's so fun to read, and this one was even set in my home state!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Absolutely phenomenal.
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