It's Only a Game

by Sam Rebelein

"If Jigsaw wrote a rom-com, it might read something like IT'S ONLY A GAME. Sam Rebelein tugs on your heartstrings while pulling every rusty lever in this thrilling house of horrors." —BRIAN MCAULEY, USA Today Bestselling Author of Breathe In, Bleed Out

A propulsive puzzle box novel by Sam Rebelein, where a recently split couple must solve a haunted escape room together—or die trying.

If you’re reading this email, YOU have been selected to participate in a C.A.C. Games Survival Experience! *scream emoji*

This is the most challenging survival experience on the market. Your horror will feel real. Your horror will show no mercy.

We are very excited to play with you. :)

A year after a bitter breakup, Julian and Millie are thrown back together by a once-in-a-lifetime an invitation to play a legendary 72-hour survival experience with a huge cash prize. The solve a series of elaborate puzzles inside the remote and reputedly haunted Clate Hill Lodge. Only one other contestant has ever successfully escaped, and Julian and Millie are desperate to make history.

But as the weekend begins, the line between performance and paranormal quickly blurs. The puzzles are impossible, the ghosts feel undeniably real, and the hotel seems to have a mind of its own. Caught between confronting the horrors of the hotel and the unresolved issues of their own past, Julian and Millie begin to wonder how much of the Lodge is only a game and whether the prize isn’t money—but their own lives.

Sam Rebelein’s newest is both a satisfyingly inventive puzzle box and an equally terrifying thriller that readers won’t be able to put down until the final clue is solved.

"Once you open [IT'S ONLY A GAME'S] pages and start reading, there is absolutely no putting it down. Just pray you can make it to the end in one piece." —Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Wake Up and Open Your Eyes

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Thriller, Adult, Suspense, Mystery, Horror Thriller

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 2, 2027

About the author

Sam Rebelein writes (and teaches writing) in Poughkeepsie, NY. His short fiction has appeared in PseudoPod, The Deadlands, Press Pause Press, Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year, and elsewhere. His debut novel EDENVILLE was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award, and won a Wonderland Book Award for Best Novel. Sam's recent collection of interconnected short fiction, THE POORLY MADE AND OTHER THINGS, is set in the same fictional world as EDENVILLE; GALLOWAY'S GOSPEL (Sep 2025) is set in the same world as well.

For more about Sam's work, and pictures of his scruffy pooch Frodo, follow him on Instagram @rebelsam94.

Reviews

[cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A year after a bitter breakup, a former couple enters a 72-hour survival game inside a supposedly haunted lodge, expecting impossible puzzles and a massive cash prize. But as the game progresses, the line between the challenges and the haunting begins to blur, leaving them to question whether everything is still part of the game... or if they’re trapped inside something very real

on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ‎♪ˎˊ˗
“ᴍʏ ᴡᴀʏ” x ғʀᴀɴᴋ sɪɴᴀᴛʀᴀ
1:45 ──♥─────── 4:36

→ please note that my 3 stars reflect my personal taste, not the writing! I expected more romance and got a very different reading experience. If you like thrillers/horror, I think you’ll absolutely eat this up!

I truly have no explanation for why I requested this arc. I’m a romance girl through and through. Give me cute couples, fictional men, yearning, and emotional damage and I’m good. Thriller/horror is very much not my usual territory, so this was definitely different. And seeing it categorized as romance on NetGalley had me expecting more romance than I got

But I have to give credit where it’s due because this book had me COMPLETELY INVESTED (although scared out of my wits). The writing pulled me in so quickly, and I found myself constantly trying to piece together the puzzles, catch the little details, and predict what was coming next. Every time I thought I had something figured out, the story would take another turn and send me right back to questioning everything. I was never completely sure what was real, and honestly, that’s what made it so hard to put down.

The atmosphere was also SO well done. The lodge felt eerie and unsettling in a way that kept me on edge even when nothing particularly scary was happening. I was always waiting for the next clue, reveal, or twist, trying to put the pieces together.

I also really enjoyed Julian and Millie’s relationship. Their history wasn’t pushed (at least completely) aside for the horror, and I liked watching them work through their issues, communicate more honestly, and slowly become a safe place for each other.

For me, this landed at 3 stars. The gore was more than I personally enjoy (any gore is more than i enjoy), and the Ouija board elements were an immediate HARD no. I also don’t see myself rereading this, but I can appreciate how completely it pulled me in and kept me guessing.

If you like creepy settings, elaborate puzzles, twists, and never being completely sure what’s real, this could be right up your alley. dare I say you'll be... HOOKED 👀 iykyk

After spending the entire book trying to figure out what was real and what wasn’t, I think you’ll just have to pick this one up for yourself and see where the truth actually lies. And at the end of the day…

Is it really just a game?

[⋆｡°✩ Lulu ꩜ ⋆｡°✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

•°☆°• It's only a game—★★★☆☆


I'd be lying if i said i wasn't entertained at any point in the book




I saw this book on netgalley and the cover looked really cool and THEN i saw it was romance and i thought okay what's it about? i read the blurb AND IMMEADIETLY REQUESTED
i got accepted and decided to read the
first chapter and i was VERY intrigued



This was so cool



I'm gonna start by talking about what i loved:

—Julian 😼...(except when he was being a wuss)
—Buchanan, he was actually funny lol
—Adriana and gerard
—The games the puzzles
—The fact that the book had me hooked the entire time



What i didn't love

—Millie... only a bit below the first half of the book. SHE PISSED ME OFF SO MUCH.
like she was kinda rude.
Not her getting in nine or eight relationships and an open marriage in the span of one year 😭
i'm not saying thats a bad thing but it kinda showed she doesn't want a long term relationship. She was very closed off and yes, we blamed her childhood.
AND HER BREAKING UP WITH JULIAN FOR WHAT HE WROTE IN THAT NOTEBOOK 🤨 GIRL CHILL.
BUTTT IM GLAD SHE CHANGED AFTER THAT AND THATS GOOD.


—Descriptions
When i read a book i want to know what the characters look like and this book gave me nothing but the fact that millie has blue eyes and that julian has like stubble or something?
MAYBE I MISSED THE DESCRIPTION
It mentioned that julian has lost weight and hasn't changed his hair since they broke up. how about both of their hair colours?
and their ages? i assumed they're middle aged or in their twenties
Other characters did get described so that was good.


—The romance

So the romance itself was good, the reason they brokeup was stupid, the ending was cute but unfufiling

TELL ME WHY THOUGH
TELL ME WHY
MILLIE AND JULIAN ARGUED SO MUCH
They were like teenagers
i was thinking: How is their relationship ever gonna work?
but i guess it worked in the end becayse they learnt how to work together.



— The ending
I was actually expecting a twist at the end, just waiting for the any sort of twist at the end. but nope. nothing, i saw all of that coming but i kept waiting for a big suprise, then i realised that the whole purpose of this was the romance, but even then the ending wasn't good enough to be a romance.
It didn't describe what happened when they went back and what they would both do with the money

The way both were asked if they would go play a second game. millie said yes.. i actually thought they were going in for another

I wish that they gave full, like how the hell was that not real? no way AI generated game can do all that 😭

It was a happy ending but something still felt so off. why did it still feel eerie?

ALSO WE DID'NT GET ADRIANAS REAL NAME.

IM STILL CONFUSED ON WHETHER IT WAS A REAL GAME OR NOT




•○°○°○°○°○°○°○


○°•💚•°○— Pre-read: A horror book ? with romance? GIVE IT TO ME... AND I GOT THE ARC

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, It's Only a Game, by Sam Rebelein, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Millie and Julian are selected to a few day survivor challenge. This is not a game I want to be invited to play. This was an interesting read, I would prefer it with cleaner language though.

[KELLY · Rating 4 out of 5]

72 hours long ESCAPE ROOM. ONE ABANDONED HOTEL. PRIZE MONEY. NO WAY OUT without the keys.

Julian and Millie are chosen for the ultimate survival experience: 72 hours locked inside a shuttered hotel, solving puzzles for a life changing cash prize. Two keys give them options—a pause button if they need a break and another that ends the game completely. Every part of the Hotel is part of the game.

I really enjoyed the escape room feel of this book. It starts off with lower tension as we’re given a tour of the mysterious hotel and introduced to the rules by the “Game Master.” The hotel itself has so much old-world charm and history, especially considering people mysteriously vanished there year after year.
Then things start getting STRANGE. Ghosts, supernatural occurrences, time travel, twists.

This isn’t a terrifying, scary, nightmare inducing horror story. It’s much more suspenseful, mysterious, and atmospheric, with supernatural elements. I was suspicious the entire time, constantly wondering what was real and what was part of the game.

If you enjoy escape rooms, mysterious hotels, puzzles, the supernatural,.twists, and stories that keep you guessing, this one is worth checking out!

Thank you Netgalley, William Morrow for the ARC.

Read on release day 02/ 02/2027.

[Jamie Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book really compelling to read. There's some lead up that explains who the two main characters are, Julian and Millie, and why things between them are so uncomfortable. They broke up over a year ago, but before that, they applied together to be part of a horror escape game. The application was insanely in depth, with hundreds of questions.

The setup doesn't last long before the story drops you right into the action. There are multiple escape games in this world, and the one Julian and Millie take part in takes place in a haunted hotel. The book does a great job building tension and a constant sense of dread.

I love horror, especially game style books that make me question what's real. The whole time I was right there with the characters, trying to figure out if this was truly just a game or if they had been set up in a trap.

My biggest issue with the book might just be the pacing. Overall it stayed fairly steady, but there were times when it shifted into very fast paced action. Those scenes were packed with mind twisting details, and I really struggled to keep up. I had a hard time understanding what was happening in that exact moment and where it was going next.

[Marguerite Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me tell you about this book. It's thrilling, funny and ridiculously frightening. But it's all about the relationship to me. Julian and Millie had such an affect on me, I found myself crying a lot. Sam's words were so beautiful, and I think this is my favorite of his books so far. His talent to weave puzzles, the supernatural and the evolution of a relationship just left me speechless. That and the fact I had nightmares every night while reading. This never happens anymore. That's how scary it was. He had me up late every night this week because I just couldn't put this damn thing down! Do yourself a favor and pick this one up when it comes out February 2. This is perfect for anyone who loves a little horrormance. Thank you to Harper Collins for the early e-arc.

[Jackie · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Well…this was one twisted adventure, and I’m so glad I decided to give it a chance! The whole setup of the game was bizarre, elaborate, and unlike anything I’ve read in quite some time. The closest comparison I can think of is The Maze Runner which I read over 12 years ago.

What really intrigued me about It’s Only a Game was the hotel itself. A giant, suspended, Rubik’s Cube-like structure that actually rotates, with rooms the characters have to navigate through just to reach the caves? Who comes up with this stuff?! I love when authors get this creative. So unique and completely fascinating.

I also really enjoyed the characters, the eerie atmosphere, and the constant mystery of what the heck was actually going on. The supernatural elements were just enough to make things strange without getting too ridiculous. And the lengths this game went to? Totally insane.

There were definitely moments when I had no clue where the story was headed, but I think that made it even more fun. I just kept reading, wondering what bizarre twist was coming next. It was a little far fetched. No question. But I think that’s what made it so entertaining. The creativity of it all kept me engaged and I couldn’t wait to see how the madness would end.

This was definitely a unique reading experience and a new-to-me author I’ll be looking out for again. Thank you to William Morrow for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Angela Staudt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.

Synopsis? Amazing. Cover? Amazing. Ending? EXACTLY what I wanted. Plot? Absolutely wild. Writing? …no comment.

The way these characters were written genuinely had me questioning whether they were supposed to be seven year olds. The banter between Millie and Julian was SO childish that I actually had to go back and double check their ages. The number of times one of them would say something completely out of pocket and pull me right out of the story was honestly too much.

BUT THE PLOT?! This concept is so cool and different, and I was questioning everything the entire time. What's real? What's not? Is this actually a game? What is happening!? I was completely hooked on the way this “game” was set up. All the tricks, twists, and wtf moments were next level, and I was flying through the pages because I needed to know what was going to happen next. The concept alone had me in a chokehold!

Unfortunately, I could not stand either of the main characters. Between the poor decisions and the childish behavior, I was struggling with both of them. Millie was downright mean to Julian, and for what?! Their interactions, along with the dialogue throughout the book, felt so immature that it became difficult to take the characters seriously. For a plot this clever and unpredictable, I really wish the character writing had matched that same energy.

All in all, I still had a good time with this book, especially because of the absolutely bonkers plot and an ending that gave me exactly what I wanted. I just wish the dialogue had been cleaned up and the characters had been written with a little more maturity. The story itself had me hooked, but the writing sometimes made it hard to stay immersed.

[Sarah Harney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to William Morrow for an ARC of It's Only a Game via NetGalley.

I love escape rooms and haunted house stories, but I had a difficult time with this book. The voice of the narrator was oddly like an old person, calling the female main character a "gal" and describing the couple as "smooching". Then, on the other end of the spectrum, the main characters are supposed to be 30 year olds who had previously been together for 2 years, but their behavior was more like teenagers, calling each other "dude" and "dork" and farting on each other?? It would have been so much less annoying and distracting if they had just been normal, mature adults. They also had possibly the least amount of chemistry in the history of book romances. The game/mystery was cool and unique but I was just never able to get fully invested in it because of the writing and character issues.

2.5 stars

[Rad · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

NetGalley ARC review

This is an A24 movie begging to be made. The mental visuals were absolute nightmare fuel. 4.5 rounded up

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve actually seen this author in-person twice at an annual horror-authors event, but I’ve never read him. I really liked his personality — he’s super funny — but I think he’s a cosmic horror writer typically which I don’t think I’m into. (Full disclosure: I may have a bit of a crush on him, whatever.) So when I saw he was coming out with this, I had to request it from NetGalley. The premise was intriguing and the cover was a stunner.

The premise: Julian and Millie have been broken up for a year. But before they broke up, they had applied for a competition, and now they’ve gotten accepted. The competition? Like the world’s most extreme escape room adventure. You get locked up somewhere scary for 3 days and have to solve a series of puzzles to get out and win money. Their ‘somewhere’ is a hotel and the random scare assigned to them is ghosts.

For me, this did not live up to the concept. Something was lacking and I’m not smart enough to articulate what. Like, it should have been amazing — great concept and some great scenes, but overall I just wasn’t pulled in. Didn’t like the characters much at all. And I kept thinking this would actually work better as a movie. Like, there was a big audio/visual component to it. I feel like it would be really creepy and cool visually. IDK I really wanted to love it and I didn’t. It’s like a 2.5 that I’m rounding down because there were definitely cool scenes and ideas and it got better toward the end… but I’m remembering that overall it felt like a chore to get through and if I was a DNF Girlie, I would have given up.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julian and Millie apply for an escape room experience with a massive cash prize. Fast forward a year, they’re broken up and receive the acceptance to the game in a haunted NY hotel.

Julian was a sweetheart and I loved having glimpses of how his mind worked in the escape room. Millie was insufferable for the first 30% but I will say that there was some growth and she became a decent human to Julian after they experience some haunts

This was so atmospheric, I felt as if I was in the Hotel with them. It was eerie and all the puzzles had me engaged and rooting for Millie and Julian throughout.

The plot felt very original and well thought out. I enjoyed the direction the story took as well as the growth of the characters.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC*

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for a free ARC of this book.

This was a really cool concept! Definitely a little spooky but nothing too crazy. The book lost me a little at the end but the first like 80% I was hooked! I still liked the ending, just got a bit much from like 85-95%.

[Cari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this is a ride! Gory and existential horror mixed into a tight package. I could not put it down. Millie and Julian have been broken up for a year when they find out they have been accepted into an immersive escape room game. With their mutual love of puzzles--and a big cash prize--they can't turn it down, no matter how awkward. I am a huge escape room fan, and even though the ghosts and ghouls in the book are more forward than the puzzles themselves, I loved the mechanic and the crazy situations it forces the couple into. I look forward to Rebelein's next book.

[Alexander Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent! Rebelein hit it out of the park once again, he has yet to not hit a home run in my opinion. This book was so masterfully woven together; it grips you and holds you in a stranglehold, while perfectly blending horror, and fun puzzles, and a lovely romance. I look forward to owning this and rereading when the book comes out.

[Bethany McLaughlin · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ rounded up
Review of ARC received through NetGalley. This in no way affected my review, all opinions are my own.

WOW, I have never read anything like this! Millie & Julian broke up a year ago and are now offered the opportunity of a lifetime to play in an ultra-secretive, super challenging, mega-escape room. They have to find clues, decipher puzzles, and solve the mystery behind the disappearances that have plagued Clate Hill Lodge for the chance to win one hundred thousand dollars.

I loved so many things about this book. The escape room elements with puzzles, clues, and keys were incredibly entertaining and maintained steady plot pacing the entire time. This was so much spookier than I was anticipating, it had me wanting to read with the lights on. As the escape room progresses, the line between reality and the game starts to become blurry, even though Millie and Julian are constantly reassured that “it’s only a game.” Without giving spoilers, there were so many twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end!

Another thing I loved about this book was Julian and Millie’s relationship and how they came together to protect one another, work as a team, and solve the mystery. The time they spent apart has provided them with the opportunity for self-reflection and to decide what they really want. Now, working together to beat the escape room provides them with the shot for a second chance. I loved how genuine their relationship felt and how they intentionally chose to fight to overcome their difficulties and give one another grace.

If you like thrillers, plot twists, and a little second chance romance, It’s Only a Game will officially be available on February 2nd, 2027 and I highly recommend you check it out!!

[Jaima Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a WILD ride. 😂 I’m not sure I fully understood what was happening toward the end there, but honestly… I was having enough fun that I didn’t even care. There were so many twists and turns that I just buckled in and enjoyed the chaos.

Definitely a unique and entertaining read!

[BeMandyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geesh! I loved it! Full review to come.

[ReadTheHotline · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Only a Game | Sam Rebelein

🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Listen, ghouls. I thought I was pretty good at puzzles. I enjoy a good mystery, can hold my own in an escape room, and generally consider myself a reasonably functional human being with a few brain cells to spare.

Then Sam Rebelein invited me into Clate Hill Lodge, and suddenly I was fighting for my life, questioning reality, and wondering if I’d accidentally signed away my soul somewhere around page 100.

A year after their messy breakup, Julian and Millie reunite for a 72-hour survival game inside a remote, supposedly haunted hotel. Solve the puzzles, survive the experience, win a shitload of money. Easy peasy, right? WRONG. The hotel has other plans, the rules get increasingly questionable, and the line between an elaborate game and an actual nightmare gets blurrier by the minute.

And me? I was IN THERE. With these people. Desperately trying to crack the clues, connect the dots, and pull my weight in getting OUR collective asses out of that godforsaken hotel. I was practically a contestant myself, and I would like to formally request compensation for my emotional distress.

But Rebelein’s brain doesn’t work like a Rubik’s Cube. Oh, no. That would be far too easy. His mind is more like the puzzle box from Hellraiser. You might get your bearings for a hot second, but there’s a very real chance you’ll lose your sanity, your precious soul, or both in the process. The man is deeeeeevious, and I love him for it.

The time-bending? Delicious. The slow unraveling? Exquisite. The layers upon layers, the twists that kept sending me back to reconsider what the hell I thought I knew? Stunning. This story has a relentless pulse that barely lets you catch your breath, and just when you think you’ve figured something out, Rebelein casually pulls the rug out from under you and sets the floor on fire.

Now, I’ll be honest. Julian and Millie took some warming up to. Their relationship baggage didn’t immediately make me want to throw myself into their emotional group project. BUT Julian’s seatbelt lore won me over. And thankfully, characters like Buchanan, Adriana, and Gerard brought plenty to the table. Add a hotel that practically becomes a character in its own right, a game designed to make you question EVERYTHING, and an ending that left me sitting there with the biggest, dumbest grin on my face? Yeah. We have a winner.

This one might not be for readers who need every little detail neatly explained and tied up with a bow. Personally, I enjoy when an author grabs me by the brain stem and takes me somewhere deeply unhinged. I want the WTF moments. I want the mental gymnastics. I want to feel like I need a corkboard, red string, and possibly an exorcist to make sense of what I just read.

Rebelein understood the assignment. Then he set fire to the assignment, hid the fire extinguisher, and made me solve a riddle to find the exit.

Tropes for ya

🔪 Haunted hotel / isolated setting
🎲 Deadly survival game
🧩 Elaborate puzzles & riddles
⏳ Time-bending narrative
👻 Paranormal/Psychological horror
💔 Second-chance romance
🌀 Unreliable reality

If you like your horror twisty, your puzzles diabolical, your timelines a little bendy, and your fictional getaways likely to end in psychological ruin, BOOK YOUR STAY. Just don't expect a refund. Or your soul back.

Thank you to William Morrow, NetGalley and Sam Rebelein for the opportunity to grab and gush about this book.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two ex-lovers enter a fucked up escape room in a haunted hotel. What could go wrong? It’s Only A Game had me questioning whether it really was only a game. Some slow moments in the middle, but overall, I thought it was really thrilling. I’ll be patiently waiting for the movie (Seriously! I could really see it being a movie). Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.

[Kate Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

He did it again! Another five-star (for me) book from Sam Rebelein. This was a bit of a departure for Rebelein, it doesn't take place in his created world of Renfield, though he shares it initially started there in his mind. It's also a romance at its core, these two must work together and find a way back to each other, even if only to get out alive. While it took a while (~20%) for the horror to start in earnest, the wait was worth it. I went back and forth in my head on how it would end and was very satisfied with how it all wrapped up. Also make sure you read the acknowledgments, not only does Rebelein lay out some of his inspirations (The Shining is truly felt throughout), but he leaves a small hint at what is to come and follows that with an anti-AI rant which is always appreciated. Had the eARC of this one so now I'm going to place my order for a physical copy when it releases in February, this is definitely going to be a re-read.

A year ago, Julian and Millie applied for the ultimate escape room experience, C.A.C. Games Survival Experience, a chance to test your abilities and potentially win $100,000. Now they're broken up, but when they receive an email informing them that they have been chosen to participate in the C.A.C. experience, they decide they can handle three days together to win the money. They're informed their location will be a hotel, Clate Hill Lodge, and that there will be ghosts. No other information is offered, but Julian and Millie sign up and agree to take part. Upon their arrival Buchanan, the gamemaster, gives them a quick tour and explains the rules, including options to receive hints or a short reprieve from the game, before locking them in and taking their phones and car keys.

As the game begins, the difficulty of the puzzles seems destined to make matters worse between the two, and the ghosts feel too real for comfort. They were warned that the horror would feel real, but at what point does the horror become real? The two must work together to solve the puzzles and stay safe, especially as danger seems to be found increasingly down every hall. The more puzzles they solve, the more fearful they become, but It's Only A Game, right?

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an eARC of this novel.

[David · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

“This is the most challenging escape room/Survival Experience on the market. Your horror will feel real. Your horror will show no mercy.”

Millie is untethered, she often projects a false confidence masking her instability with cruelty, and when dealing with pressure or confrontation, she pushes down the “feral goblin” that’s always lurking just below the surface. She and her ex-boyfriend applied to participate in this escape room game back when they were together, and months later were accepted after they split. If they can survive 72 hours and complete the game, they’ll win $100,000.

Julian is a dorky computer science major, socially awkward, and refers to notes he’s taken in notebooks as he attempts to mend his broken relationship with Millie. Their past grievances surface which only adds tension to an already edgy situation, but it adds a romance angle to the book that I didn’t expect.

The strength of this character-driven book is the creepy, atmospheric setting of Clate Hill Hotel, as if it were a character itself. Clate Hill translates generally to “The Devil’s Hill”, and hotel has experienced several disappearances in the past. It’s a claustrophobic building with endless shifting hallways and reports of confused ghosts who seemed lost, and of chains scraping the dusty maze of the labyrinth, leaving the participants feeling exposed and isolated. Timelines are out of synch, and the air smells like sulfur. The grounds are surrounded by unmarked graves among the buried ancestors. The corpses all share the same traits: their hands, teeth, and faces have been removed, and they’re bound in old, rusty chains.

Is it possible some ghosts don’t know they’re ghosts? Is it possible to escape Clate Hill Lodge? This was immersive and unique, a fun, fast paced character-driven book and perfect for October.

Rebelein’s acknowledgements were thoughtful as he described his inspirations for this novel. His writing was informed by so many movies, musical pieces, books, video games, and locations. The author clearly enjoyed pulling it together.

Thank you to William Morrow and Sam Rebelein for providing a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. Publication is scheduled for February 2nd, 2027.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such a great time reading this-it's so hard to find ACTUAL escape room fiction, that actually gets really into the puzzles and mystery of them.

Millie and Julian applied to participate in the legendary 72 hour survival experience by C.A.C. Games Survival a year ago, but unfortunately, they've since broken up. When they both receive an email letting them know they've been selected, they are forced to reunite because neither wants to give up a once in a lifetime experience, nor the huge cash prize if they are able to solve it.

This was such a fun time, between the extensive and in depth descriptions of the Lodge/Estate and the puzzles to solve the mystery, then the characters themselves being so different and fleshed out. I truly loved their dynamic and the entire journey they go on together that changes them. I am always looking for escape rooms and puzzle fiction, and I often find myself disappointed because the mystery/puzzle aspect is mostly back burner and glossed over. But this book truly puts you right there with them, discovering clues, puzzling out how to get to the next step and what the heck is even going on with this place?!

My only drawback was that it got really intricate near the end and a bit chaotic, but my overall experience reading this wasn't really all that affected by it. The banter is fun, and the ending was satisfying for me personally. Had me guessing right up to the very end.

I would recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a bit of horror mixed in. It's a bit more horror light in my opinion, but it does scratch the itch for the horror reader in me.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mikey ಠ◡ಠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like some people might be disappointed by the ending, and to be honest, I was for a hot minute, but then I realized I kind of liked where the author let us off at the end. I need more books that leave me questioning everything. But back to where books start, at the beginning and I'll tell y'all that once we were in the hotel, baby I wanted to STAY in that hotel. One could almost say you couldn't drag me out with a hook and chains. No foreshadowing there, just a really normal thing to say in a review.

I've recently discovered that I really enjoy escape rooms so I couldn't wait to get my grubby little raccoon hands on this book and see if an escape room would hold up in written format and boy, did the thrills and chills deliver! What I especially loved is how clever the riddles and clues were. Catch me reading this with a little notepad writing notes to myself (just like Julian), playing the game right along with Millie and Julian. I was sitting on my couch reading like, put me in coach, I can solve this!

The romantic subplot wasn't really my vibe personally, not that I didn't care about Millie and Julian as characters, I absolutely did, I just didn't care about the second chance romance part. All I cared about was solving the puzzles and getting to the end of the game!

Bottom line is: you need to read this and pro tip: definitely read the acknowledgments! I mean, in my opinion you should always read the acknowledgements of a book, but you REALLY need to read the acknowledgements for this book, trust me!

Thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advance eDRC and provide an honest review, all opinions are my own.

[Hunty · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!!

Let me just preface this with I LOVED Galloway’s Gospel and was SO HYPED to receive this ARC. It’s Only A Game (IOG) has a lot of romance elements that I simply don’t jam with, which is a personal reflection and not a reflection on the writing. While I did enjoy Rebelein’s writing, the dialogue felt weirdly impersonal… almost uncanny in that it often times felt like Julian and Millie were paper cutouts reading from a script.

And while I was floored by Rebelein’s characters in Calloway’s Gospel I was not at all expecting to be let down this time. Julian is just a nerd who gets trapped by seat belts?????….what?????? And Millie is….even flatter than Julian!

This was a bold attempt for Rebelein to try to construct a shape-shifting mansion of an escape room. It is SO difficult to construct a convoluted web of interconnected micro-universes of the same hotel and then have to convey your conceptualization in a palatable way for others to digest it. Ultimately, I commend him for the attempt but I was just so lost and confused about the layout of the hotel that it really detracted from the overall depiction. Once we add in the element of the Dial and the time traveling, I just could not keep up. I feel like Rebelein got so caught up in the mansion building that he forgot to fully flesh out (ha-ha) his characters.

Additionally, this book also suffers from being so predictable you can guess the twist within the first few chapters. There are only so many ways this kind of story can end so it’s not completely his fault but it feels like I’ve already read this story.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's Only a Game by Sam Rebelein

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read and review this Advanced Reader's Copy.

If you’ve ever thought you'd found the “right” person, only to lose them for a reason you never really said out loud, you’ll probably find something familiar in Julian and Millie’s story. You know the kind of person I mean—the one you can’t quite let go of, the one who still makes your heart ache when you think about what could have been. That emotional connection was one of the things that pulled me into this book.

I went into It’s Only a Game expecting horror. I was ready to be creeped out, lose some sleep, and maybe have a few scenes follow me into my nightmares. But this ended up being much more of a suspense story for me than outright horror. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because the suspense definitely kept me turning the pages. There was enough uncertainty and tension to make me want to keep reading to see where everything was headed.

I also have to give the author credit for the ending. I didn’t see it coming, which is always a nice surprise. Without giving anything away, the way things came together caught me off guard and gave me something to think about once I finished.

Overall, I thought It’s Only a Game was a good story. It wasn’t quite the scary horror read I was expecting, but the suspense, the relationship at the center of the story, and an ending I didn’t predict made it an enjoyable read.

For me, this one gets a solid 3.5 stars.

[Kathryn B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars - Very fun, puzzle-heavy dark thriller!

This book was a ton of fun, and reminded me a lot of Slashtag by Jon Cohn, which I also love.

As a note for potential readers - the ramp up to the main story is a little bit drawn out. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to feel in that first 20-25% as we got the backstory of Millie and Julian and the exposition heavy introduction to the lodge & game. But once things really got going I was hooked and flew through the rest of the book in one day. So, if you are on the fence, keep going!

The writing is really solid aside from a few odd word choices (I've never seen galumphed used in a book once, let alone three times!) And the premise, plot, and action were all great!

The standout for me was the story of the game, and the riddles themselves! This can be the hardest part for this kind of story. The game narrative often takes a backseat to the story itself, and the puzzles and riddles can either be overly simplistic or altogether forgotten. I thought Rebelein did a fantastic job keeping the two narratives balanced, and not dropping or oversimplifying the puzzles. Were there a few times I wanted to scream at the characters for not getting to the puzzles/clues faster? Yes, but that's just the nature of these kinds of stories.

Also, do things get really, really wild in the final act? Also...yes!

I definitely recommend this for fans of escape room/puzzle-inpsired thriller/horror, or anyone just looking for a mind-bending thrill-ride!

*Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Aimee Aylward · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

This book follows exes Julian and Millie as they decide to take on a survival, escape room-type game a year after breaking up. They have 72 hours to survive the ghosts and horrors of the hotel they're stuck in and solve the game to win a cash prize, but the rest of the details surrounding the game are kept secretive and only speculated about online. As the clock starts ticking on their game time, the two start facing incredibly lifelike scary scenarios that have them questioning whether they'll be able to win.

I really enjoyed this book - it was fast-paced from the very first page and had a really well crafted, unique plot. I thought the author did a stunning job of balancing an exciting and detailed game the characters are immersed in while also having their relationship with each other unravel organically. The writing style was incredibly descriptive and well done, and set the scene so well which was critical for understanding what was going on as it was so easy to picture every scene as if watching a movie.

My only drawback with this book was that the two main characters had so many cringey moments, especially at the beginning. I found their dialogue initially a little immature in a way that veered past endearing and lost the comical element that was present otherwise. The characters did grow on me as I read and overall this cringey-ness didn't detract from how amazing the execution of this book was.

hank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[RavenReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love American Horror Story, do yourself a favor and pick up It's Only a Game. While reading this, I kept thinking that it felt like a mashup of several different seasons of AHS, and I mean that as a compliment. Give me creepy settings, twisted games, mysterious backstories, and a whole lot of WTF, and I am absolutely here for it.

The synopsis alone hooked me: an escape room style game set inside a haunted hotel, 72 hours to get out, and a $100,000 prize waiting for those selected to play. Sounds straightforward enough, right? WRONG. This hotel has plans of its own, and things get increasingly strange from there. Rebelein does a great job juggling multiple POVs, several timelines, and some mysterious perspectives that leave you questioning what you actually know. The hotel's overarching story is particularly well crafted, with layers of history and horror that gradually come together. There’s a wonderfully chaotic, unpredictable quality to the whole thing that kept me engaged and eager to see what fresh nightmare was waiting around the corner.

My one sticking point was the ending. I’m not entirely sure it worked for me, especially after such a fantastic ride getting there. But the journey was so entertaining that I can’t say it ruined the experience. It's Only a Game is weird, creepy, twisty fun, with the kind of elaborate horror setup that makes you want to keep reading just to see how far off the rails things can go.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sam Rebelein, and William Morrow for the ARC. All opinions are my own

[Cyndi Farfsing · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun and unexpected ride. I truly had a blast reading this. I went in expecting a cute little mystery thriller and ended up in the escape room from hell.

Julian and Millie, a year after their breakup, are selected to participate in the super underground and secretive C.A.C. escape weekend experience at an old haunted lodge. Both agree it’s the chance of a lifetime and, despite their breakup, decide to go for their shot at winning $100k.

Upon arriving, things quickly begin to unravel, and it starts to seem like this may not merely be a game. It’s twisty, horrific, and more than a little mind-bending. At no point did I see where this was headed. The author did an amazing job of making me question everything right alongside the characters.

I found the narrative absolutely riveting, although the characters fell a little flat for me. That would be my only real criticism. I don’t want to give anything else away because this is absolutely a book that’s best experienced knowing only the synopsis.

This is the perfect binge-it-in-a-day book. I had a hard time putting it down, and the puzzles were clever and well thought out. If you like fast-paced horror with a unique premise, this is one to pick up.

Trippy, compelling, shocking as hell, and most importantly, just ridiculously fun.